The Dan people, who are also known by the name Yacuba, live in the western part of the Ivory Coast and in Liberia, where the land is forested in the south and bordered by a savannah in the north. The 350,000 Dan people make their living from farming cocoa, rice, and manioc. Before unifying secret societies were set up at the turn of the century, each Dan village was an autonomous socio-political unit governed by a chief elected on the basis of his wealth and social position. Today, the leopard society acts as a major regulator of of Dan life and initiates young men during their isolated periods of three to four months in the forest. Dan people have achieved notoriety in the area for their entertainment festivals which were historically village cermonies, but are today performed largely for tourists. During these festivals, masked performers dance on stilts. Dan Masks are characterized by a concave face, a pointed chin, a protruding mouth, an upturned nose, and a high-domed forehead. This particular mask has delicate female features, including narrow eyes, a band over the forehead decorated with cowrie shells, and full lips. Masks with female features are primarily danced for entertainment. The masqueraders frequently specialize in singing. -Bacquart -Hahner-Herzog/Kecskesi/Vajda