Won Ldy Paye

My name is Won Ldy Paye-I'm from Liberia, I'm a Dan-speaking person. And in order to understand the Dan people, you have to know Gle, which means "mask". You see them on different occasions. Why does it structure every Dan's life, every Dan person's culture? Masks are when your real identity dies and becomes something else. So there's no more Won Ldy-Won Ldy dies and becomes something else. The person's real identity is hidden. Gle comes in. When we say gle, we're talking about a different realm of life, where the person dies and takes on a new personality that has nothing to do with his real physical self.

So we say the Gle Dan is the voice or representation of all our ancestors that have died, and yet survive in hills, trees, or river. These are the only forces that can bring us news from our ancestors. To us, then, the masks have to be structured into society. Are you a mask that entertains, that is warlike, or one that lives your life to be a judicial person?

Visit Won Ldy Paye's website at www.wonldypaye.com