Ivory Coast

Dan (also called Gio or Yakuba)

Metal – Bronze
Mid 20th Century
4 inches inner circumference of band; bells diameter: 2.5 inches
Idiophone – Struck Indirectly – Shaken -Rattle Adornment

A large and very heavy Dan anklet from the Ivory Coast.  This anklet is called “Gli Djè” meaning girl’s ring, with 3 bronze bells, each decorated with geometric patterns and small metal pellets inside.  It is worn by young women whose body ornaments could be associated with decorations of these prestigious objects.  Varying from 3 to 14, the number of bells defines the social rank.  The anklets of 3 to 5 bells are worn by modest young girls, those that number more bells are reserved for the elite and girls of chiefs. 

References: André BLANDIN: “Bronzes and other alloys”, Ed. Balder, Gent, 1988.
Hans and Ulrike HIMMELHEBER: “Die Dan, ein Bauervolk im Westafrikanischen Urwald “, Ed. W. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart, 1958.