Mask "zakpai" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Dan · ID: 3038093

Description

wood, slightly shiny black patina, kaolin, beautifully formed face with characteristic concave profile and pierced round eyes, facial contours, eyebrows and tattoos painted in white pigment, drilled holes around the rim, in the cheek area in two rows, slightly dam., minor missing parts (nose, rim backside), scratches, abrasion of paint (lips);
such masks are called runner masks, “running juju”. They are widespread among the northern Dan (because of the dry area they are mostly needed there). Worn by the fastest runner of the village, they are supposed to warn the inhabitants and call for help in case a fire breaks out. They used to wear face masks with big circular eyes and a coating of red fabric, completed by a head gear with big leaves “bülä” and a rough costume with short fibre skirt. Their “weapon” was a short branch while their companion used to beat a slit gong. They only appeared in dry season and their sole task was to control the cooking fire places within the village. They are not dancing or singing, they are just rumping with the youngsters of the village.

The object Mask “zakpai” with the object ID 3038093 was last part of the auction 79th Tribal Art Auction at March 21, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 186.

You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.

Comparing literature

Fischer, Eberhard & Hans Himmelheber, Die Kunst der Dan, Zürich 1976, p. 73 ff.