The Dan people, also known as Yacuba, live in western Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia, where the land is forested in the south and bordered by savannah in the north. They live by growing cocoa, rice, and cassava. Before the establishment of unifying secret societies at the turn of the century, each Dan village was an autonomous socio-political unit governed by a chief elected based on his wealth and social position. Today, the Leopard Society acts as an important regulator of Dan life and initiates young men during their three- to four-month periods of seclusion in the forest. The Dan have gained notoriety in the region for their entertainment festivals that were historically village ceremonies, but are now largely organized for tourists. During these festivals, masked performers dance on stilts. Dan masks are characterized by a concave face, a pointed chin, a protruding mouth, an upturned nose, and a domed forehead.
This mask is worn to entertain spectators during the ceremony.
The mask is in good condition, the only visible defect is the slight detachment of the fabric to the left and right of the crown.