| Location: |
Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire |
| Population: |
350,000 |
| Language: |
Dan (Mande) |
| Neighboring Peoples: |
Guere, Guro, Mano |
| Types of Art: |
Dan sculptors mainly produce masks which deal with virtually every element in Dan
society, including education, competition, war, peace, social regulation, and of course,
entertainment. They also produce stylized wooden spoons and intricate game boards used for
mancala, a common game of "count and capture". |
| History: |
Oral traditions describe the Dan society of the 19th century as lacking any central
governing power. Social cohesion was fostered by a shared language and a preference for
intermarriage. Generally, each village had a headman who had earned his position of
advantage in the community through hard work in the fields and through luck as a hunter.
They usually surrounded themselves with young warriors for protection from invading
neighbors and exchanged gifts with other chiefs in order to heighten their own prestige.
Out of this custom was born the basic tradition of tin among the Dan, which was based on
displaying one's success in order to build a good reputation and name. |
| Economy: |
The tradition of tin is still an essential part of the Dan economy today. Young people
strive to make a name for themselves by lavishly spending at community feasts to
demonstrate their wealth. Although farming and hunting have been largely replaced by
laboring in the diamond camps or working at the rubber plantations, the establishment of a
hierarchical social order is still based on the individual's ability to succeed. |
| Political Systems: |
It has been only recently, through the creation of the leopard society (go), that a
unifying political organization has emerged among the Dan. The secret political society
centers around the powerful spirit go, who is responsible for peacemaking. Although the
power of go seems to be increasing throughout Dan society, individual villages still
maintain a high degree of political independence, and the economic power of the individual
is still highly valued. |
| Religion: |
The Dan world view holds that everything can be divided into two separate and clear
categories. The primary dichotomy is between village and bush, in other words, things that
have been controlled by man and things that have not. Crossing over the dividing line is
dangerous business, and whenever it is done, whether to clear new fields or simply
crossing the forest, the bush spirits must be appeased. In order to take part in village
life, the bush spirits must take corporeal form. The Dan believe that all creatures have a
spirit soul (du), which is imparted onto humans and animals from the creator god, Xra,
through birth. One's du is immortal and is passed on after death to a new being. However,
some du remain bodiless. They inhabit the forests as bush spirits and must establish a
relationship with a person if they wish to be manifested and honored. Often the spirit
will request the chosen person to dance the spirit, utilizing a mask to illustrate the
spirit's embodiment. |
