Cleveland Museum of Art

Mask (Kple Kple or Kouassi Gbe)

Date

late 1800s-early 1900s

Medium

Wood, resin, and paint

Culture

Africa, West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Baule-style carver

Department

African Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This kple kple mask belongs to the first of four pairs of masks that entertain as part of a performance sequence in the goli dance. The male in each pair dances first. The masks are worn by young boys in a rapid stamping dance. The masqueraders alternate with each other and watch their partners perform. The head of the male kple kple is painted red, whereas the female, like this example, is colored black. The wearer of this mask would secure it on his face by biting onto a (now-missing) piece of rope attached to the back.

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