The goli is one of the most famous mask dances of the Baoulé country. It is performed by two dancers who wear four masks in turn, in a fixed order. Today it holds a leading place among traditional dances.
A Wan Origin
The goli originated among the Wan, neighbours of the Baoulé, and was adopted by the latter between 1900 and 1910, perhaps in response to the upheavals of colonisation (see Colonial Conquest & Resistance). It has gradually replaced other forms of dance.
The Four Masks
| Mask | Form |
|---|---|
| Kplé kplé | Flat disc with stylised horns, often red and black. Adolescence, unruly youth: a minor-rank mask opening the ceremony with lively, acrobatic movement |
| Goli glen | Heavy zoomorphic mask (hyena, crocodile, antelope). Male strength, raw nature, adulthood; dances with terrifying energy |
| Kpan pre | Human-like face with small ram's horns. Transition and balance between bush and village |
| Kpan | Refined human face, polychrome (red ochre), three-lobed braided crest. Seniority, wisdom, idealised femininity: the senior mask that closes the ceremony with slow, noble steps |
Each pair of masks exists in male and female versions with subtle differences: for example the male kplé kplé is red and the female one is black. The first two masks represent the "female half", the later ones the "male half". A goli mask shaped like a buffalo head, with red, white and black horns, is displayed on the Sunday of Paquinou.
When Is the Goli Danced?
The goli may be performed at important occasions, such as funerals, or simply for entertainment. Accompanied by drums and songs, it brings a whole village together.
baoule.ciIn-depth study of traditional dances in the Baoulé country →An Example of Syncretism
While mblo is indigenous, the goli illustrates borrowing made one's own: arriving from the Wan around 1900, it became the region's most emblematic masquerade, to drums, balafons and calabashes, in an order of appearance reflecting age, gender and status. Baoulé culture is not fixed: it proceeds by assimilation and constant enrichment of its repertoire.