A We monkey mask, Ivory Coast, collected in the region of Bangolo, provenance Alpha Gazambe, Abidjan,

Monkey Mask (Gle or Ge Mask)We (Guere) People, Bangolo Region, Western Côte d’Ivoire. Early to mid-20th century This dynamic and expressive monkey mask is a powerful example of the We (also known as Guere) sculptural tradition from the Bangolo region of western Côte d’Ivoire. Characterized by exaggerated facial feature, including bulging eyes, a prominent open mouth, baring the teeth, and stylized animalistic attributes, this mask represents a forest spirit associated with the monkey, a creature revered for its cunning, unpredictability, and supernatural presence.
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Worn during ritual performances, funerals, or community justice ceremonies, such masks served as intermediaries between the human world and the spirit realm. Activated by specific rituals and accompanied by music, dance, and costume, the mask's presence was believed to embody a living spirit known as gle. This particular example likely functioned as a protective or judicial force, enforcing communal values through its imposing visual form and spiritual authority.

This sculptural mask, carved in the form of a monkey spirit, displays the dynamic and forceful aesthetic characteristic of We (Guere) art. The face is composed of bold, protruding features—wide circular eyes, a jutting mouth with bared teeth, and stylized ears—intended to project power and instill awe. The mask is adorned with metal attachments and organic materials, enhancing its visual and symbolic impact.

Among the We, masks of this type are activated during masquerade performances connected to initiation rites, funerary ceremonies, and community enforcement of moral codes. The monkey, often considered a trickster or supernatural forest being, serves as a conduit between the human world and the bush spirits. These masks are traditionally worn by initiated male performers who don full-body costumes and are accompanied by music and dance.

The monkey mask exemplifies how the We people merge artistic expression with social function and cosmological belief.

Lit.: Fischer, E., & Homberger, L. (1985). Art of the We and Dan Peoples. Museum Rietberg Zurich. ; Vogel, Susan. (1997). Baoulé: African Art, Western Eyes. Yale University Press.

Dorotheum, Sothebys, Lempertz Heritage Gallery

A Mumuye Monkey mask

A Guerre zoomorphic mask

sold

Height: 24 cm without stand
Weight: 1,3 kg incl. stand