Guro Gu Dance Mask

This brightly-colored and highly sculptural mask is a dance mask used by the Guro peoples of Côte d'Ivoire. The mask depicts one of the three primary characters masqueraded during ritual and secular performances. With a serene expression, red hue, and elaborate bird-form head crest, this dance mask depicts Gu, the beautiful wife of Zamble, a mythical being with antelope and leopard features. The third dance character is Zaouli, the grotesque brother and counterpart to Zamble. These three characters are assumed during dance competitions between neighboring villages and remain a popular form of entertainment. Fantastic as a wall-mounted sculpture, we love this mask for its subdued coloring and its wonderfully balanced form.