Dan Mask-Liberia

masks are usually used by male associations for rituals, education, social control and entertainment. Masks were thought to embody the most powerful of spirit forces called gle. Each gle has its own character. They brought control and order to village life. There are several distinctly different types of Dan masks.This form of a Dan mask is known as Deangle, an idealized form of beauty and grace. It represents gentle spirits who collect food from the villagers for boys away in initiation camps and were used for nurturing, teaching and entertaining.