Gunye Ge Mask of the Dan: What It Was For and Why It Matters
Dan | Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire | Racing / Entertainment
What was it for?
The Gunye ge is the Dan racing mask. It is worn by the community's champion foot racer in weekly races held during the dry season. A masked runner chases an unmasked challenger, and if the challenger outruns him, the masked runner loses the mask. The race turns speed into a public contest with real stakes.
What does it look like?
An oval face with large round eye openings, which the Dan read as aggressive and masculine. Many examples have metal set around the eyes, which sharpens the stare and makes the face stand out clearly against the smoother, gentler Dan masks.
Why does it matter?
The Gunye ge shows that Dan masks are not all solemn. A racing mask belongs to the excitement of sport, to crowds, speed and the pride of a village in its fastest man. Spiritual life and public entertainment meet in the same object, and a champion runner becomes, for a time, the bearer of a spirit.
One thing most people never know
The Gunye ge is often confused with the most senior Dan judicial mask, but they are different objects. The mask that settles serious matters belongs to the Go society and is known as Go ge. The racing mask's authority lies in speed and challenge, not in judgement.
Further reading: the source record for this entry.
This entry is part of the SEVICS Africa archive of 100 African masks. If you own a mask like this and want to know more about it, try our Mask Identifier.
