African Arts Gallery

Baoule mask (N° 20258)

This circular African mask, known as "junior", has hollowed out eyes topped by protruding pupils, and a rectangular mouth with chiseled teeth, in reference to the traditional filing of teeth in young people. Reduced animal ears are represented on the rounded horns, evoking an attitude of alertness in the face of danger. According to some authors, the female kplekple mask (Masques africains Barbier-Mueller, p.116) is red. Vogel (Baule) indicates on the other hand that in the Baule version of the Goli the male mask is painted red, and the female in black. It is likely that this attribution varies from village to village. Usually preceding the manifestation of a series of masks of the " Goli" family, this circular mask with rounded horns reminiscent of antelope, is considered in some cases to be a male mask, kplekple yassoua or yaswa , as opposed to the female kplekple bla . He appears briefly during the day and then in the evening to announce the coming of his kinship in the guise of the goli glin or kpwan . Its lustrous patina is black and beige. It was during events such as epidemics or funerals that its manifestation occurred among the Wan and Baule, in order to curry favor with the "amwin" spirits dispensers of prosperity, health or even security. Nowadays, it appears during festive events, the Goli replacing little by little all other masked dances, whether they are sacred or for entertainment.