African Arts Gallery

It is mainly in the west of Ivory Coast that the Bété employ masks whose style has been influenced by the society of the Gla masks of the Wobe and Guéré populations, together called Wé or "men who forgive easily" . This beautiful naturalistic mask, from the west-central region of Côte d'Ivoire on the border of Dida country, is carved in a heavy wood. It has a high ovoid front, seat of wisdom and reflection, a median ridge highlighted with brass nails divides. The hairstyle separated in three is lined with animal skin. The palpebral fissures prominent, half-closed, are surrounded by parallel scarifications. In the slightly prognathic chin appears an open mouth on incised teeth. A frustum forming a collar garnishes the base. Orifices on the perimeter served to fix the raffia set that accompanied the dance. Black satin patina abraded. Remains of white pigments. This Bété mask comes from the west-central region of Côte d'Ivoire. The Bété are divided into ninety-three ethnic groups and belong to the Krou group, like the Wé and the Dida. Practicing the cult of the bagno, they wear masks provoking the terror, called Gré, equipped with a convex forehead and sometimes also of horned head, in order to protect themselves from the spirits. Some masks dance in pairs and others in groups of seven. The example above had a judicial and apotropaic function.