CraftWest
The mask world of the Dan / Yacouba
Masques dan · échassiers de Man
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The Dan (also called Yacouba) are a Mandé people of the mountains around Man in the west. Their masks are seen as embodiments of forest spirits, each with a role: justice, entertainment, carrying messages. The stilt dance is one of the west's most famous performances.
In this world a mask is not decoration but a living presence; the person wearing it is the spirit itself.
CE QUE VOUS VERREZ · What you will see
A dark, glossy wooden mask with round or slit eyes; in the western mountains, dancers on stilts two or three metres high spinning in the air.POURQUOI · So what
The western mountains, with waterfalls, liana bridges and peaks, are among the country's most beautiful landscapes, and the region where mask culture is best preserved.SAVOIR-FAIRE · How to use it
When locals say 'the mask is out', understand that it does not mean 'someone is wearing a mask' but that a sacred moment has begun. Speak respectfully and ask before taking photos.Asian and European parallelsCompare Japanese kagura: once the dancer puts on the mask, in the ritual he is seen as the deity itself, not someone playing it.
Where to experience itMan and surrounding villages in the west; easiest to see at festivals.
On these routes
Sources
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