Passport Mask

Dan Tribe, Liberia Early 20th century

Provenance: Collected in the 1970’s by an American Peace Corp. volunteer, stationed in Liberia. Private California collection.

This is another example of the sophisticated Dan production of passport masks, or ma go. This powerful diamond-shaped mask could embody an important family mask when its owner traveled abroad, to keep a spiritual link with the main mask-spirit. Both men and women could own one as an important means of identification. Miniature masks could also be used in circumcision rituals.