Female Face Mask (Gu)

The hairstyle and the scarifications on this female mask, named Gu after the spirit it embodied, reflect the beauty standards favored by the Guro. Elaborate hair arrangements express both social status and wealth, since a woman sporting one must rely on the help of fellow women for its creation. Though the mask is no longer performed, Gu once formed a trio with two male characters. The refinement of Gu’s facial features stood in stark contrast with her chaotic and turbulent performance.