Zaouli


Zaouli is a traditional dance of the Guro people of central Ivory Coast. The Zaouli mask, used in the dance, was created in the 1950s, reportedly inspired by a girl named "Djela Lou Zaouli". However, stories on the origins of the mask are varied, and each mask can have its own symbolic history.
Each Guro village has a local Zaouli dancer, performing during funerals and celebrations. The dance is believed to increase the productivity of a village that it is performed in, and is seen as tool of unity for the Guro community, and by extension the whole country.

In popular culture

The Sri Lankan-English rapper M.I.A. included a clip of a Zaouli dancer in her music video for the song "Warrior", released as the video Matahdatah Scroll 01: Broader Than A Border in 2015. Next to that it is also used by Psytrance artists CAPTAIN HOOK & ASTRIX for their music video clip - BUNGEE JUMP in 2013.