Dan Protection I

Salihu Ibrahim is inspired by age-old masks from the Dan culture and reinterprets the design with this original piece. This type of mask is believed to have been used by the Dan people of west Liberia, Guinea Conakry and west Ivory Coast to regulate disagreements and protect children. This dark brown sese wood mask is carved by hand featuring an oval forehead, round eyes and aluminum teeth. The Ghanaian artisan uses white clay to finish the mask with an aged appearance around the eyes, and adds a curved nail on the forehead.