Mask "zakpai" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Dan · ID: 3033995

Description

wood, partly encrusted brown patina, remains of pigments, typical big round eyes, drillings around the rim, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion;
masks like the present one are called runner masks, or “running juju”. The mask is completed by a head ornament with big leaves “bülä” and a rough costume with short fibre skirt. Their “weapon” is a short branch while their companion beats a slit gong. They only appeared in dry season and their sole task was to control the cooking fire places within the village.