Guere

They are established in the west of the country, in the border area with Liberia. The most important cities are Duekué, Tulepleu and Giglo. It is an area rich in hunting and forest essences between the Cavally and Sassandra rivers. , south of the mountainous region of Man. They are called indistinctly. Wobéeven though they are sometimes regarded as two different ethnic groups, as is the case with the Dan or Yacouba. It’s really about the people We, being the other denominations of colonial origin. The Gueré are known and feared for their knowledge and magical powers. Their masks, are Gla masks, are deliberately horrifying, for the more horrifying their most feared and respected aspect is their word. These masks and the clothes of their bearers are loaded with symbols intended to terrify, such as hairs, feathers, ropes, raffia and animal teeth. Only the initiates can sculpt them. And sometimes they are not “manufactured” but “found” which adds a halo of supplementary mystery. The mask and its bearer form a single being. Man and the object disappear to give way to the “mask”, incarnation of a precise entity, loaded with personality and strength. These masks had watchful functions, serving justice and driving the evil spirits away from the village, one of the African constants. On religious holidays he transmits the will of the ancestors to the community. It is also responsible for paying debts and monitoring the safety of mothers and their minor children. Dan and the Gueré is very different from the Baulé For them the mask is rather the outward sign of a social institution, which is why the mask is not a good of the community. It belongs to a clan or a family. A mask cannot be covered by several people, even if it is different occasions. It can only be carried by its bearer, its owner. The people who keep the mask keep it in their house, with great care, inside a trunk. The GUERE masks of Ivory Coast are the KRA masks in Liberia. Mascaras TÉ-GLA = They are Gueré masks with tubular eyes, they were war masks. They play a political role. Most of the Gueré masks are masks of war, with a fierce and horrifying appearance, intended to cause dread among adversaries. Despite their various aspects they always have common features, such as tubular eyes, large moustaches and beards, cauris and amulets, beard necklaces formed by wooden leopard teeth, etc. They also serve to detect the culprits and participate in funeral ceremonies. Function of the Gueré mask The Gueré mask is called “Gla”. There are two categories or series, the big ones and the small masks. Their functions are similar to those of their neighbours. Dan. 1.- Kpepogla Griot mask that can go to sing to all clans. It accompanies the Griot in his travels. It alerts the opponent if any complaints occur. He sings the praises of the Griot and the Judge and makes them observe the laws. He always goes after the judge and forces him to act well. Make known the name of the antagonist who won the trial. 2.- Begla Singing Mask. Participates in all ceremonies organized in the village. 3.- Dueya Mask of Justice. When you are going to pronounce a sentence women must return home. In principle, it administers justice only to men. When a major conflict arises between two high-ranking women, it is men who replace them to come to the Dueya. The losing party may appeal to another Dueya from another neighboring town. It also exercises information functions, in this case equivalent to the Dugué mask of the Dan. 4.- Zrogla It is the mask of the beggar. Despite this name, it has some very important functions that identify it better with a mask of surveillance, namely: 1.- Encourage the workers who are breaking the fields. On this occasion only retains the raffia dress, without placing the facial part of the mask. 2.- Function of surveillance of rivers. Its function is equivalent to that of a river ranger and a forest ranger. Prevents fishing for foreigners or in forbidden time. 3- Watch the raffia palms. 4.- Watch for the hygiene of the village. 5.- Watch the roads and roads. It is also a spy mask. He informs the elders of all information concerning the village. 5Djigla is the panther mask. It corresponds to what in other ethnicities is the mask of war. The wearer of this mask leads the combatants in the event of armed conflict. On the battlefield, she is respected, no one can harm her. During the battle, he encouraged the fighters and raised their morale. When the combatants of his camp begin to faint, he goes to find Debloahigla, a mask of peace, so that he can settle peace between the two sides. 6.- Debloahigla Its main role is to go to the battlefield to prevent the extermination of the defeated. Send the head of the opposite field a branch of oil palm and a white hen. If the head of the enemy side accepts it, it means there will be peace. In principle custom requires acceptance of these offerings. 7.- Gbagla Mask of Order Service. It has the same functions as the Passualé mask among the Dan. 8.- Identity mask Small miniature mask that all mask bearers carry with them. This miniature is a faithful reproduction of the mask. This mask is presented as a piece of identification to penetrate the sacred forest. There is no face mask inside the sacred forest of the Gueré, but in order not to be recognized, once inside, everyone expresses himself by placing himself behind his garment that has been extended on the ground and speak through an instrument that they have placed in their mouths and that deforms the voice. It is the same mask that in other ethnic groups is called a passport mask. It is used in large movements, whether on foot or in a vehicle. Protect against accidents.