Grebo (people)
The Grebos (also Glebo ) are a people of Liberia . They live in the eastern center and southeast of the country. In addition, some Grebos also live in the west of the Ivory Coast , in a largely forested area. They belong to the group of Krus .
history
According to their traditional legends, the Grebos came from the southern Sahara region in the 16th century. In Liberia, their independent and secluded location had protected them from foreign influences for a long time, which has allowed them to preserve their traditional culture to this day.
Culture
Many Grebo masks are on display in Paris. The beauty and authenticity of the masks particularly attracted the attention of Pablo Picasso , who created a collection of African masks and who was specifically inspired by a Grebo mask, bought in 1908 to realize his work Guitar in 1912 - the first Cubist sculpture.
The masculine masks with geometric shapes can often be recognized by their long noses, enclosed by one, two or more prominent pairs of eyes with tubular shapes, which should achieve a threatening effect. The appearances of the female masks are often soft, more harmonious and purer.
literature
- Etta Becker-Donner, “About two Kruvölkerstämme: Kran and Grebo”, in H. Baumann, Koloniale Völkerkunde , 1944, n ° 1, pages 1-70
Web link
Individual evidence
- ↑ A.-M. Boyer, Les arts d'Afrique , p. 345
- ↑ A.-M. Boyer, op. Cit. , Page 345
- ^ David Cottington, Cubism and Its Histories , Manchester University Press, 2004, ISBN 9780719050046 , 207.