Dan Passport Masks from Africa

Miniature masks often called ‘passport’ or ‘Ma’ masks are found among the various peoples of Liberia and Ivory Coast, including the Dan, Yacuba, Gio, Wenion (We, Guere), Geh, Loma, Konor, and Bete. 

 Sharing a wide variety of uses they are the personal masks of initiated adult men and would be carried on their person or kept on personal shrines in the home.  They serve to mark the passage of an initiate into the men's secret society and his elevation into the higher ranks.  The small masks may be presented at meetings of senior members of the men's society to indicate their right to be present and participate in the deliberations.  

Diviner’s would recommend that small masks be given to children to wear to ward off evil witches or cure illnesses.  Small masks placed on shrines would receive the offerings and prayers of their owners and in time would accumulate a rich pagination of different substances that could obscure their features.  Most of these miniature masks mirror the shape and features of the larger masks that they were modeled after.  Often delicate feminine features are carved onto the small masks with great concern for detail and accuracy similar to the larger danced masks.  And like the full sized dance masks the smaller masks reflect the great diversity of style and form of the larger masks.  As a result there is no single style of ‘Ma mask’ for they reflect not only their cultural heritage but equally reflect the variety of uses to which they are put.   In addition to the wooden carved masks other examples of these miniature masks are cast in bronze.

The Dan, who live in Liberia and the Ivory Coast, are governed largely by secret societies. The Leopard Society acts as a major regulator of Dan life, and initiates young men. Dan masks are characterized by a concave face, pointed chin, protruding mouth, upturned nose, high domed forehead, and a rich brown patina. They carried small "passport" masks in leather pouches when they traveled.  For more information, and a similar example, see Bacquart's TRIBAL ARTS OF AFRICA.

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