Kple-Kplé Goli men's face mask

This mask inspired many modern artists, especially Pablo Picasso for a parade costume in 1917, Fernand Léger and Wilfredo Lamm. The effigies of the Baoulé cult are an intermediate ensemble between sacred cults and dances of rejoicing open to all. The Goli ceremony includes four pairs of masks, distinguished by sex and color, with dominant red (female) or black (male) dominants. Their complete release, which does not happen systematically, takes place in the following way during a ceremony of 5 to 6 hours: first the disc masks (Kplè Kplè), then the zoomorphic heaume mask (Goli Glin). Then the one who presents a human face adorned with goat horns (Kpan Kplé), and finally the one who presents a young woman's face (Kpan). It is a progression from the abstract to "realism", from animality to humans. Region: Bouaké, Village: Kongoli N'Dolikro The Kplè Kplè mask is danced to announce the arrival of Goli. The Kplè Kplè always go in pairs, the male is black (Kplè Kplè yaoussa), the female is red (Kplè Kplè blah). The costume is a combination of fabrics and fringes of raffia forming a kind of loose skirt.

Ref. : CSW8R2ZF