Mask "zakpai" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Dan · ID: 3034966

Description

wood, blackish brown patina, oval form with regular facial features and big round eyes, pierced around the rim, min. dam., small missing part (back), slight traces of abrasion, socle;
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.