The Guro Peoples

Between the Baule and the Yaure to the west, the Malinke to the north and the Bete and We to the south, the Guro people live surrounded by savannah and forest. They migrated from the north during the 16th century and number about 200,000.

Originally they were called Kweni, but they were violently colonized between 1906 and 1912 and were given the Baule name Guro by the invading French colonials. Guro villages have rounded houses in the northern area and rectangular houses in the southern region. Village life is regulated by a council of elders, representing each main family, and by secret societies. The Guro farm predominantly cotton, rice, coffee and cocoa - the men clear the fields and the women plant.

Guro art is characteristically elegant. Their artistic output is dominated by masks carved with elongated faces, concave profiles and slanted eyes.

MASKS

Three different regional styles of mask can be distinguished:

In the western Guro area, face masks are carved with extremely pointed chins, protruding mouths, long linear noses, bulging slanted eyes and a high-domed forehead which is sometimes adorned with scarifications. These masks have apotropaic functions and are worn by an adjudicator when guilty individuals are punished.

The southern style is influenced by the neighbouring Bete tribe. Their masks can be distinguished by their human physiognomy, raised scarification in the middle of the high forehead, a triangular nose and pierced eyes surrounded by incised scarifications. Another type of mask found in this region has a domed forehead, an upturned nose, slanted eyes and a pointed chin. Dye masks, either in the shape of a man's face or an antelope or elephant's head, tend to be worn at the funerals of important chiefs and can be viewed only by men.

In the northern area, four major types of ceremonial mask are carved:

The Gye helmet mask represents a stylized antelope and is worn during memorial festivals. Three other masks appear at the same time during entertainment ceremonies and are owned by an appointed family. The Zamble face mask represents yet another stylized antelope; the Gu face mask resembles an elegant woman's face with forehead scarifications and an elaborate coiffure incorporating some amulet symbols; and the Zauh face mask takes the form of a stylized antelope head with tubular eyes, a pair of horns and a beak-like square mouth.

STATUETTES

Guro artists carved figures, varying in height from 20 to 80 cm, which appear either during entertainment festivals on the head of a dancer, or are kept in houses and employed as divination figures. These standing statues are carved with their hands on their hips and have a columnar neck supporting a head with similar features to the face masks.

EVERYDAY OBJECTS

Guro carvers produced elegant heddle pulleys and spoons decorated with human or animal faces.