Description

The Dan believe that ‘in’ and behind’ this world exists an essential force called dü which is usually described as a power that is present in all aspects of the world. Dü manifests itself as invisible spirits which may take the form of men or animals. There are some dü spirits which in order to realise a physical nature, must rely on men to create a tangible form for them as masks or figures. The dü causes a man to dream of it and then instructs him in the means through which it must be materialised. One type of dü spirit prefers to be manifested as a masquerade - these are the mask spirits.

All spirit masks are described as ge by the northern Dan and as gle or glö by the southern & western Dan (meaning ‘mysterious being’). These masquerade spirits wish to help men and to advise them, revealing their desire through dreams. The masquerade does not merely represent a spirit, it IS that spirit.

Every spirit masquerade has a proper name (e.g. wuti = black antelope / slü = falcon / gao = diana monkey). In addition they often have another title / a praise name or one which explains the function or significance of the masquerade. The deangle masquerade (also called bonagle / sohngle) is a character whose name means ‘joking or laughing masquerade’. A friendly, attractive spirit, one who makes men joyful when it appears. Associated with the circumcision camp: the deangle masquerade leaves the circumcision camp and goes into the village to ask the women for food for the men and boys secluded in the circumcision camp.³ Sometimes the word deangle is used to describe a ‘smiling mask’ and can be used to describe all masks with narrow eyes and a pleasing feminine appearance.

For more, see the article on ‘Masquerades Among the Dan People’ on the Art & Life in Africa website, hosted by the University of Iowa Museum of Art (UIMA) HERE.