Wood. Height: 12.9 cm (5.08 in). Weight: 86.6 g (3.05 oz).

Finely carved with a high domed forehead incised with rhythmic scarification motifs, narrow slit eyes beneath arched lids, and a projecting mouth forming a compact, slightly triangular chin. The surface shows a deep, smooth patina with evident wear, testifying to handling and use. The reverse is hollowed, with perforations along the rim for attachment.

Small “passport masks” (often referred to as maa go) were personal protective objects, worn on the arm or kept on the body. Rather than being danced, they functioned as intimate guardians, believed to embody and channel protective spiritual forces, ensuring the well-being, identity, and social recognition of the owner within the Dan cultural context.

m26