A Guro mask, Ivory Coast, Gohitafla region. Incl stand

A Guro mask from the Gohitafla region in central Côte d’Ivoire exemplifies the artistic sophistication and spiritual significance that characterizes the Guro people's masking tradition. In this region—rich in ritual performance and ancestral veneration—masks are not simply decorative; they are sacred instruments used to embody spirits (zamblé), convey moral teachings, and unite the community during key life events Such a mask is typically carved from wood and displays the hallmark Guro aesthetic: a narrow, symmetrical face with a serene expression, almond-shaped eyes, and a gracefully modeled mouth. The mask is usually crowned with a zoomorphic or fantastical crest—often an antelope, hornbill, or human figure—each symbolizing qualities like agility, fertility, or ancestral wisdom. These visual motifs reinforce the spiritual nature of the performance and often reference Guro mythology.

In the Gohitafla area, this type of mask would most likely be worn during a Zaouli performance or a Zamble-Gu masquerade, depending on its formal attributes and spiritual association. The Zaouli dance, in particular, is renowned across Côte d’Ivoire for its dazzling, hypnotic rhythm and virtuosic choreography, performed by male dancers wearing masks that represent feminine spirits. These performances are more than entertainment—they are communal rites that protect the village, honor the dead, and promote social harmony.

As art historian Susan Vogel notes in her research on Central Ivorian masking traditions:
“The mask in Guro society is not a static artifact; it is a threshold—between individual and community, matter and spirit. In motion, it becomes a living presence that reorders the world and reminds its viewers of the invisible forces that shape daily life.”
(African Art in the Cycle of Life, 1986)

Gallerie Wolfgang Jaenicke

sold

Height: 61 cm / 63 cm incl. stand
Weight: 2,2 kg incl. stand