Dan Mask ( Liberia , Africa ) This type of mask is made and worn exclusively, by male dancers. Dan masks are unique and only carved by initiated members of the male Poro society. The mask served to protect the young initiate against evil forces from the time of initiation, till he one day enters the spirit realm. The Dan people classify thier surroundings into two realms - the village with all inhabitants (human realm), and the forest (bon) (spirit realm) where the spirits reign, and wild animals roam freely. The forest is regarded as sacred, and crossing the boundary between the human realm, and the spirit realm, may only be done by saying a prayer and wearing materials from both worlds. This creates a link between the two realms. A spirit who wants to be given a bodily form visits the initiated males in a dream. Following the dream, the adult males have to give life to the spirit, in the form of a mask. Before the actual carving process the adult male cleanse himself, then sets off to the forest to find a suitable piece of wood. When he reaches the initiation camp, he commences with the carving. On completion of the mask, he carefully plans the song, music and dance, which are to accompany the initiation ceremony. Once the male mask dancer dons the mask, he is transformed into a spirit. The reason I used the Red , White and Blue color border is to represent the Flag of Liberia , were the Dan tribe lives. The blue field symbolizes the continent of Africa; the five pointed white star depicts Liberia as the first