Anthropomorphic face mask "kpan", early 20th century ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Baule · ID: 3052039

Description

heavy wood, pigments, metal nails, rest.

For a comparable object, see AHDRC 0203057.

“Kpan” masks are part of the “goli” masquerade, a day-long spectacle that normally involves the whole village. “Goli” can be performed both as an entertainment and for the funerals of important men.

Four pairs of masks appear, two by two, in a fixed order: first a pair of disc-faced masks “kple kple”, next a pair of animal helmet masks “goli glen”, third a pair of horned face masks “kpan pre”, and finally two human-faced masks with crested hairdos “kpan”, embodying the ideal woman. “Kpan” (“the older woman”) is considered the wife of “goli glin” (= the older man").