African mask African wood carving mask African tribal mask Guro Gu Mask Home Décor-9179

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The Guro gu mask, one of the trio of sacred masks alongside zamble mask and zaouli mask, is a representation of a young woman exuding beauty. In the past, gu was the spouse of zamble, but in contemporary rituals, she is depicted as the wife of zaouli and, consequently, the mother of zamble. These three masks hold significant religious importance and are the objects of worship, with periodic sacrifices made to ensure the prosperity of the owning family and to ward off malevolent spirits. They are utilized in celebratory and entertainment dances, as well as during funerals and ancestral tributes. While the gu mask symbolizes a deity, her dance is characterized by wild movements and incessant foot stomping. To accentuate her footwork, she adorns her ankles with bells and gracefully moves to the melodies produced by a few flutes.