Mask "n‘gré" or "glé" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Bété · ID: 3047915

Description

wood, decorative nails, hide, plant fibre, base

Masks of this type, characterized by bold volumes and projecting forms are believed to embody powerful spiritual forces associated with the forest.

Scholars suggest that the tradition of masking among the Bete was introduced to the region by their western neighbors, the Wè (with the complex also including the Wobé, Kran, and Sapo).

The masks perform in a variety of contexts, including the settlement of disputes, communication of moral messages, and warfare. Their wild appearance suggests that they also had a protective function and should counteract aggressive, negative forces, sorcery and diseases.