The Dan lü me Statues

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The Dan lü me Statues

The Dan produce large naturalistic wooden female figures called lü me, "wooden person." These are neither ancestor figures nor representations of spirits, but are intended to be portraits of living people, whose names the figures bear. The characteristics of the carved figure may correspond very closely to the features of the individual. The sculptures are conceived of as portraits of the women they depict, although this and other examples suggest an overarching emphasis on established Dan ideals of feminine beauty. A chief or awealthy man may commission a portrait of his senior or preferred wife, sometimes with a child on her back. The owner of such an object acquires prestige when he gives a large feast at the public unveiling of the figure. Such a figure may be stored in a miniature hut built expressly for it, to be brought out only for important guests. The hairstyle is typical of the Nquäa Dan who live in the border area between the Dan and the western We or Kran. The hair pulled up to the top of the head in two bunches, with a tress of hair falling down the forehead; open mouth displaying teeth, rings of fat around the neck, heavy, sagging breasts, and elaborate scarification patterns are all highly appreciated marks of female beauty among the Dan.

The Dan People

Map of the Ivory Coast and the Dan people (orange)


The Dan people, also known as the Mano-Dan, are a Mande ethnic group primarily residing in northwestern Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) and neighboring areas of Liberia, known for their distinctive art, especially masks, and their secret societies.

Location:

They are found in the mountainous west-central Côte d'Ivoire and adjacent areas of Liberia.

Language:

They speak the Dan language, a Southeast Mande language.

Population:

 There are approximately 700,000 members of the group.

Art:

The Dan are renowned for their art, particularly their masks (gle or ge) and their secret society, Gor (Dan for "leopard"), which is a peacemaking society.

Masks:

Dan masks are spiritually charged and integrated into the hierarchical system that governs political and religious life. They are often made from a single piece of soft wood that has been darkened and appears black with a shiny surface.

Farming:

The Dan are primarily a farming people who cultivate staple crops such as rice, cassava, and sweet potatoes, as well as cash crops like cocoa, coffee, and rubber.

Social Structure:

Villages are divided into quarters, each housing an extended family or lineage, with each quarter headed by a "quarter chief".

Ceremonial Dances:

The Dan have ceremonial dances that have special significance and importance, organizing two-day festivals in which the best dancers from neighboring villages are chosen.

 

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