#krumask
LightNews LightNews
patrickkapty.bsky.social
Grebo Kru mask
wood, pigments
late 19th century
Grebo people
Liberia, Africa

#handmade #art #tribalart #Grebo #Liberia #Africa #africanart #africanmask #grebomask #warmask #carved #wood #pigments #culture #religion #belief #initiation #bodio #priest #male #kru #krumask #19thcentury #sculpture
The Grebo people (also known as the Glebo) are an indigenous ethnic group living primarily in the southeastern coastal regions and interior forests of Liberia, specifically in Maryland and Grand Kru counties. They are a subgroup of the larger Kru language and cultural family. Unlike many neighboring West African tribes, the Grebo do not historically use the Poro secret society structure. Instead, they are traditionally guided by a high priest and chief known as a Bodio. The Bodio lives in near-total isolation, managing spiritual matters and mediating with ancestors while his physical needs are supported by the community. The Grebo are globally famous for their highly abstract, geometric wooden masks. These sculptures radically contrast with the more naturalistic art styles of neighboring tribes like the Dan.
June 26, 2026 at 6:44 PM