GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Dan peoples are part of the Mande linguistic group and live in northeast Liberia and the neighboring areas of Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea. Farmers and warriors, the Dan have no central authority; rather, they live in independent villages made up of different clans grouped around a chief. Secret societies are important to the organization of Dan society, especially the Poro society, which is common to all ethnic groups of the region. Masks are perhaps the most important works of art created by the Dan. Artists also carve figural sculpture and spoons and make pottery.
Adapted from
Roslyn A. Walker, The Arts of Africa at the Dallas Museum of Art (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2009), 301.
NOTES
ASSOCIATED CONTENT CHUNKS (list applicable note links)
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
- University of Iowa Museum of Art, Art & Life in Africa~Learn more about the Dan peoples.
- University of Iowa, Art & Life in Africa~Read an essay about masquerades among the Dan peoples.
- Smart History~Read an overview of the peoples and cultures in Africa.
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES (digitized/non-digitized)
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
apply to objects where culture equals dan peoples
Category
rules_operator
AND
General Description
The Dan peoples are part of the Mande linguistic group and live in northeast Liberia and the neighboring areas of Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea. Farmers and warriors, the Dan have no central authority; rather, they live in independent villages made up of different clans grouped around a chief. Secret societies are important to the organization of Dan society, especially the Poro society, which is common to all ethnic groups of the region. Masks are perhaps the most important works of art created by the Dan. Artists also carve figural sculpture and spoons and make pottery.
Adapted from
Roslyn A. Walker, The Arts of Africa at the Dallas Museum of Art (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2009), 301.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
(digitized/non-digitized)
Web Resources
- University of Iowa Museum of Art, Art & Life in Africa~Learn more about the Dan peoples.
- University of Iowa, Art & Life in Africa~Read an essay about masquerades among the Dan peoples.
- Smart History~Read an overview of the peoples and cultures in Africa.
Notes
rules
Apply To
Objects
culture
Equals
dan peoples
source file
peoples_and_societies-0051.xml.nores