REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Liberia
YEAR PRINTED: 1971
VALUE: 9 cents
This stamp is one of a set of eight celebrating traditional masks of African peoples, none of which strangely is found in Liberia. This stamp depicts a masquerader of the Dan people of Côte d’Ivoire. The masquerader belongs to the Poro Society, which is responsible for the adult initiation of boys and maintaining social order generally. This mask is sometimes called a “racer” mask and emphasizes the Society’s function of vigilance for the safety of the village.
