| Location: |
Southwestern Ivory Coast | Neighboring Peoples: |
Senufo, Baule, Krou, Gouro, Guere, Abbe, Asante, Dan |
| Types of Art: |
To render the hostile forces of the forest material, they sculpted a type of mask that would provoke terror: the gre, with its grimacing face, distorted features, facial protuberances, horned heads, bulging forehead, tubular eyes, and wild animals' teeth. In earlier days, this mask presided over the ceremony held when peace was restored after armed conflicts and it participated in sessions of customary justice. Of We origin, the Bete mask is more elongated and has no fangs, horns, or bullen nails. |
| Religion: |
They maintain a harmonious relationship between nature and the ancestors. The vast majorities follow their traditional African religion and believe in the God Lago however; they do not worship this God. They believe in the spirit world to guide and protect them through daily life. These spirits they believe are found in nature, namely rivers, rocks, forests etc. Sacrifices of worldly possessions are made to the spirits to appease them especially during troubling times.
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| Credit: |
Lotus Masks - 06/2010
http://www.lotusmasks.com/category/bete-tribe-africa-masks.html |
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