African Arts Gallery

This circular African mask, says Junior, has hollowed-out eyes topped with protruding pupils, it has a rectangular mouth in which a dentition is chiseled, in reference to the traditional image of teeth in young people. The female kplekple mask, according to some authors (African Barbier-Mueller Masks, p.116) is said to be red. Vogel (Baule) indicates, however, that in the Baoulé version of the Goli the male mask is painted red, and the feminine in black. It is likely that this allocation varies from village to village. Usually preceding the manifestation of a series of family masks. Goli, this circular mask with rounded horns evoking the antelope, is considered in some cases as a male mask, kplekple yassoua or yaswa , as opposed to the kplekple bla feminine. He appears briefly during the day and into the evening to announce the arrival of his relatives as the goli glin or kpwan. It was during events such as epidemics or funerals that its manifestation took place among the Wans and the Baoulé, in order to reconcile the favors of the spirits of the 'amwin' providers of prosperity, health or safety. It appears nowadays at festive events, the Goli gradually replacing all other masked dances, whether sacred or entertainment