Maska Kplekple. Baule. Wybrzeże Kości Słoniowej.

A variation of the well-known kplekple moon mask used by the Boule people during the traditional Goli dance. Historically, the Boule did not use masks. Later, they borrowed masquerades and masks from their neighbors, the Guro and Yaore tribes. The Goli dance is a celebration for the entire village. Four pairs of masks with different symbolism take part in the dance procession. The dance is accompanied by music played on traditional instruments and the abundant consumption of palm wine.

The Kplekple mask is only part of the dance costume. The costume consists of a raffia skirt, raffia around the wrists and ankles, a shirt and pants made of mesh and leather on the back. Usually, the mask is much simpler than the one I offer. It looks as if it were made with an axe and a saw. To be honest, I don't know why this one took on a more sophisticated form. Perhaps the artist who made it wanted to showcase his craftsmanship. Vanity can be attributed to any race. The mask is quite old. I hope it dates back to the first half of the 20th century.The horns, which are a symbol of fertility among the Baule, show signs of repair. It is a large mask. It is 65 cm high and 30 cm wide. Its depth is about 15 cm.