Gye ge mask – MŻo/A/3552
Origin: Yaure ethnic group, Ivory Coast
Date: 2nd half XX century
Description: There are different styles of Yaure masks, the hallmark of all is the smooth, "classic" facial features surrounded by a textured hairstyle. They are worn by male dancers who perform in public theaters or dance at funerals.
The Yaure are part of the Mande group, but due to their remoteness from the compact Mande area and living in the Baoule neighborhood, they were absorbed by Baoule and Gouro. Many of their masks are a combination of animal and human images: a human face with horns or animal ears.
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The purchase is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture, National Heritage and Sport as part of the National Institute of Museums and Collections' own program "Expansion of museum collections".