Baule Kpan Mask

To ward off evil and exert positive influences on the spirit world, the Baule people engage in a daylong masquerade known as the Goli. A sequence of four masks are donned during the performance, with the last and most important being the kpan, or senior female. Honored with graceful, rhythmic movements, the mask expresses the dignity and majesty of a senior-ranking woman. The mask’s sculpted cheekbones, arched eyebrows, and elaborate hairstyle composed of intricate braids evoke the Baule ideal of feminine beauty.