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Photographs © Tim Hamill
GUERE MASKS, Liberia and Ivory Coast
Living in along the western edge of the Ivory Coast, the Guere and their neighbors the Wobe share numerous customs and beliefs. Although they are separate tribes, the two peoples are often referred to as the We, whose name means "men who easily forgive."
According to Jean-Baptiste Bacquart in his excellent book The Tribal Arts of Africa, We carvers focused on sculpting powerful face masks to which paraphernalia such as shells, bells, nails and feathers were added which were thought to reinforce the power of the masks.
The ferocious aspect of Guere masks - bulging eyes, open mouths and sometimes protruding horns - accounts for their identification as "war" masks but, according to Bacquart, they are worn primarily during funerals and - in a"detective" capacity - to single out guilty persons.
GO TO MASKS OF THE DAN EXHIBITION PAGE
GO TO AFRICAN WARRIORS EXHIBITION PAGE
GO TO DAN MASKS AND HEADDRESSES PAGE
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