Bird mask – Wood – Dan – Ivory Coast

Beautiful wooden Ge Gon / bird mask from the DAN people of Ivory Coast. The hornbill plays a central role in the ancient mythology of the DAN. Unlike for the northern DAN groups (Kono, Kpelle, Mano, etc…), who represent this mythical bird with a Ge Gon mask type (with a beak, a black beard, a textile hat with feathers), the DAN-MAU subgroup rather uses this type of long beak (known as “Koma-ba”, without beard) against witchcraft.