War masks of the Dan, which were adopted from neighbouring Guerze of Guinea, were the property of the “Panther Society,” an organisation dedicated to the maintenance of social order and the organisation of celebrations. The leader of the organisation was always a highly respected elder, who used masks for purposes of decision-making and pronouncing judgements. Such a powerful mask neither danced nor sang, and was never to be seen by women or children. The horns are said to increase the affective impact of the mask upon its spectators.

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