African Arts Gallery

Distinctive of African masks Baoulé known as portrait masks, this "senior" mask named Kpwan is surmounted by a statuette of a musician. The face bears the ngole motifs of ethnic scarifications, eyelids underlined with kaolin, a rounded mouth, a decorative border around it. The hairstyle evokes a meticulous arrangement of hair.

These Baoulé portrait masks, ndoma, which are part of one of the oldest Baoulé artistic traditions and frequently represent an idealized character, have the particularity of appearing at the end of entertainment dance ceremonies. . These are named, depending on the region, bedwo , ngblo , mblo , adjussu , etc.... Each of these masks are distinguished by the hairstyles, the location and the choice of scarifications, etc... and appear in a determined order. Also called Gbagba, they personify graceful young girls or men whose courage or qualities of integrity are renowned. The new generations are gradually replacing these Mblo dances called Gbagba in some villages, retaining most of the old conventions, with the Kpan Kpan dance. , whose masks raise societal issues or refer to political projects.