Kplé-Kplé mask

The Kple Kple mask is a Goli mask. The Goli is one of the most important festivities in the village of Baulé. It is a whole day of dances and joys in which all the people participate with abundant consumption of palm wine. In the procession and other celebrations, numerous musical instruments are used and four pairs of masks appear, among them the Kple Kple, which are always manifested by couples, male and female, but always carried by men. The red mask designates the woman and the black one to the man, although it may vary according to the peoples. It is one of the most active masks in the country, especially in the west.

The holiday of Goli seems to come from the beginning of the century XXThe Goli is of Wan origin, ethnic group Guro. The baules were appropriated when they settled in Buaké at the beginning of the century XXGoli represents the spirit of the dead. In the beginning, Goli masks came out very rarely, only in funeral ceremonies, they were very sacred masks. They are the first to appear in the Goli dances. Today they have become fun masks and participate in all kinds of celebrations and their dances are of peace and joy and take place preferably in agricultural festivals and visits of important personalities and in some funeral ceremonies to honor the notable deceased.

From his flat head rise two buffalo horns, representing strength and fertility. They often appear freshly painted, as it is customary to repaint them for important festivities or when the painting appears disillusioned, as I baulé them want their masks to always be “beautiful”. The rounded shapes of the mask contrast with its rectangular mouth.

This mask has danced in the Beumi region.