Dan Standing Female and Male Figures Liberia

Two stunning Dan Figures. Intricately hand-carved from wood and treated with dark pigments. These male and female figures are adorned with cowrie shells, raffia vegetable fibers, glass beads, and metal. A must-have for African art collectors and enthusiasts, these artifacts add an elegant touch to any space.

The Dan, a population of around 350,000 primarily residing in the western part of Côte d’Ivoire and into Liberia, sustain themselves through farming cocoa, coffee, rice, and manioc, as well as hunting and fishing. Known for their fierce warrior reputation, they frequently engage in conflicts with neighboring groups such as the We, the Guro, and the Mano. Culturally close to the We populations in southern forest regions, the Dan lack a central authority, relying on village chiefs, councils of elders, and male associations to maintain order and unity. The leopard society, known as the go, holds significant influence, acting as a regulator of Dan life and playing a crucial role in the initiation of young men during isolated periods in the forest. Initiation rites, including circumcision for boys and clitoridectomy for girls, mark the transition to adulthood and occur in the realm of the bush, inhabited by spirits mediating between humans and the supreme being Zran.