The Guéré (or Wé), a people of southwestern Ivory Coast, are renowned for their powerful and expressive masks with a raw and awe-inspiring aesthetic. These anthropomorphic-zoomorphic masks, often combining elements of horn, teeth, and fabric, embody the spirits of the forest and are used in initiation rites, funerals, and conflict resolution.

Worn with costumes made of raffia and other fibers, they dance to the sound of drums to restore social order and communicate with the unseen world.

In Ivory Coast, the use of masks is also widespread among the Dan, Baoulé, and Senufo peoples. Each ethnic group has its own style: Guéré masks are distinguished by their fantastical faces, bulging eyes, and powerful emotions, symbols of spiritual strength and ancestral protection.

Characterized by exaggerated features such as prominent eyes, gaping mouths, and added elements such as horns or nails, these African masks were worn to restore peace after conflicts and during customary justice sessions.

Their impressive appearance served to establish respect and order within the community.

Today, these masks are also recognized for their artistic value, reflecting the cultural richness of the Bété.