Beautiful face mask with elaborate hairstyle "zakpai" or "gunyege

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Description

wood, plant fibre, base

The “zakpai” type of mask is also called “fire prevention mask”. It mainly appears during the dry season and its function is to ensure that women extinguish cooking fires after use to prevent afternoon winds spreading fire through the village and bushes. It is worn by the fastest runner in the village supposed to warn the inhabitants and to call for help in case of fire.

The “gunyege” mask type is also called “runners mask”. These masks used to be worn when young men trained for martial combat. Nowadays, they are worn during the dry season in the weekly races of young men. The winner gains the privilege of wearing the mask in the following race and defending his title.

Both mask types are predominantly found in the arid northern Dan region.

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Comparing literature

Fischer, Eberhard & Hans Himmelheber, The Arts of the Dan in West Africa, Zurich 1984, ill. 50 & ill. 56

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