In the forests of western Ivory Coast, the Dan and Guere peoples treat carved wooden masks as living institutions rather than objects: they order social life, settle disputes, and appear only when summoned by ritual drumming that broadcasts family and clan identities across the village. Some masks emerge every year, others only once every five, ten, or fifty years, and each represents a protective spirit first revealed to someone in a dream. Before a mask comes out, initiates perform sacrifices and complex ceremonies, and the man chosen to wear it enters a deep trance that lasts until the mask returns to its hidden dwelling, usually within two to four days. The film shows the mask's decoration, the procession of initiated caretakers who guide and protect it, and the strict rule that no one outside the initiated may touch it without permission. Village chiefs preside over the dances, directing specific actions, while onlookers respond with a mix of reverence and fear. Justice masks, warrior masks, and satirical masks each serve a distinct social function within these scattered, largely isolated communities.