Guru Elephant Mask Ivory Coast

The Guru peoples of Ivory Coast, also known as the Guru or Kweni, are renowned for their rich masking traditions that feature brightly colored and vibrant masks with elaborate surmounts. These objects of joyful and stately beauty are used in a variety of social and spiritual ceremonies.

The Guru are are deeply tied to the land and they believe in the protective spirits of animals. The elephant is revered for its grace, its power, its kindness. It is considered royal and loyal.

Guru masks represent the spiritual way of life in the Guru culture. Most Guru masks represent the spirit of Gu, the wife of Zamble, a supernatural being. Today the people of Ivory Coast honor their ancestors with traditional dance and wear masks like this one to reflect past traditions.

The elephant mask is a popular mask made for the Festival of Masks whereby the people of the Ivory Coast pay respect to the spirits, which are embodied in the masks. The original masks are considered sacred, only chosen individuals and families are allowed to own certain masks.