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Why were miniature masks important to Dan people traveling away from home?
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African art
Raffia-fiber cloth, made by the Kuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, mid-20th century; in the Honolulu Academy of Arts.
For the Dan people, miniature masks are important because they are easily portable objects that represent and share in the power of larger masks. When an owner travels away from home, these small masks serve to protect them from misfortune and harm.1