The present mask is a dean gle, representing a benevolent forest spirit. The dean gle embody the ideal of feminine beauty in Dan culture, and are characterized by an oval face, with a smooth, broad forehead, narrow slit eyes, and protruding lips exposing teeth. The shape and decoration of each mask was determined by the interpretation of the dreams of an initiated (adult) male in which the represented spirit revealed how it wished to be depicted. These masks were danced to promote harmony and represented the nurturing spirits that fed the young initiates in the bush camps as they were educated on their responsibilities as adults. They were highly prized and passed from one generation to the next as precious heirlooms.