Due to their high artistic quality, the masks of the Dan have long been popular among collectors. The refinement of their carving, perfect symmetry, blackish patina, and smooth glossy finish turned these masks into highly aesthetical works of art. These masks did not depict ancestors, and neither were they portraits. Instead, the masked performers impersonated a supernatural being. Such powers occasionally left the woods to share the beneficial effects of the sacrificial offerings they received from the community, to claim food for the ancestors, to exorcise negative influences and to chastise, educate, or entertain the village. Besides the beautiful lips, this mask’s most striking features are its large, round eyes; a feature that reveals its usage. This type of mask only existed among the northern Dan and was either a gunye ge or zakpai ge. The first participated in weekly running contests among the young men in the village during the dry season, which were originally held to test their condition and courage. The victor of the contest would receive the mask as his price. Zakpai ge, on the other hand, was the mask responsible for fire prevention in the village. Both mask types thus required large, open eyes to ensure sufficient vision for its wearer for the task at hand.