Baule
Côte d'IvoireKple Kple Mask, n.d.
Not on view
Polychromed wood
Dimensions15 1/4 × 9 1/2 × 4 in.
Gift of Justice and Mrs. G. Mennen Williams, 1973.13
In Goli society the Kple Kple masks represent unruly and mischievous spirits, considered both frightening and amusing. They are performed at festive, as well as somber, occasions by the junior rank of Goli dancers before more important masks appear. The Kple Kple masks are danced in pairs. The black mask (seen here) is considered feminine and the red mask masculine. The circular face represents the life-giving force of the sun and the buffalo horns are associated with aggression.
