Mask – Dan (Yacouba / Krahn / Kru / Wee) people, Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire.

Description

Mask – Dan (Yacouba
/
Krahn / Kru / Wee) people, Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire.
The name Krahn is derived from Gio Kuare, Gio (Dan) people of Ivory Coast and Liberia refers to people living across the Cestos.
The most reliable story of the Krahn is that Old Man Krai, who ruled some villages, sent some porters to the District Commissioner in Tappita. When the Commissioner asked who they are, they replied; "We are Krai people." From then, they became "Krahn"... The present 'Krahn are also a result of intermarriages.  Many (ancient Semitic) 'Krahn', and their descendants, believe that objects have spirits or souls.
An example of this is seen in several Kru artifacts found in 1979 near Maryland County, Liberia.
Although scholars "claim" that they are not certain of their origins, some sources believe that the "Kru" viewed certain object carvings as living entities typically found in small bodies of water, such as rivers and creeks, these artifacts would have been viewed as water spirits or 'Gods of water.'
Additionally, it is believed that powers associated with these beings included healing, fertility, and the ability to end conflict and create new villages.
The "Wee" (also renamed / reclassified migratory ancient Semitic descendants) of Côte d'Ivoire, believe that the natural world is made up of spirits, referred to as "bush spirits." These spirits are part of the world untouched by man, and the Wee believe keeping these spirits appeased is vital to the health of the tribe.
It is also believed that the bush spirits take corporeal form in order to interact with the villagers and participate in ceremonies.
The 'Wee' feel that the bush spirits can communicate with humans through dreams, often demanding ceremonial masks be created in their honor in either male or female forms.
These masks then serve a variety of functions ranging from ritual ceremonies, forms of entertainment, and focal points in moral stories to judicial and political controls
.
All
Wee masks are believed to deflect sorcery attacks, and many undergo shifts in their primary function during their lifetime.
Masks such as this one are integral at the agricultural Festival of Ignames of the Yacouba tribe in Cote d'Ivoire.
Condition:
(see photos)
Measures 24 inches long x 20 inches tall x 15 inches deep.
Estimated age, late 20
th
Century (1960-1970s) era.
Composition; various cotton fabrics, vinyl, raffia, metal bells, cowerie shells, metal tin, seed beads, wood.
A fantastic masquerading example… Known to have been used during stilt masking performances.
Don’t miss this one!
International buyers, shipping costs will be higher.