 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2019) |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 1,150,000–1,350,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Liberia | 400,000–500,000 |
 Ivory Coast | 750,000–850,000 |
| Languages | |
| Yacouba | |
| Religion | |
| Animism, Ancient Yahwism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Mano people, Kpelle people, Krahn people | |
The Dan or Mano-Dan are a Mande ethnic group from northwestern Ivory Coast and neighbouring Liberia.[1] There are approximately 700000 members of the group and their largest settlement is Man, Ivory Coast. Neighboring peoples include the Krahn, Kpelle and Mano. They are officially known as Yacouba (or Yakouba).[1]
They speak the Dan language, a Southeast Mande language and are closely related to the Maghan people of the Ghana Empire and of the Gbara of the Mali Empire. The Dan are known for their art, especially their mask rituals (Ge or Gle),[2] as well as their secret society, Gor.[3] Gor (Dan for "leopard") is a peacemaking society, not to be confused with the brutal Ekpe (leopard) society of Nigeria.
- ^ a b Johnson Jr., David P. (2005). "Dan". In Appiah, Anthony; Gates, Henry Louis (eds.). Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience. Oxford University Press. p. 307. ISBN 9780195170559.
- ^ Reed, Daniel Boyce (2003). Dan Ge Performance: Masks and Music in Contemporary Côte D'Ivoire. Indiana University Press. ISBN 9780253216120.
- ^ Tabmen, George W. W. (1971). Gor and Gle, ancient structure of government in the Dan (Gio) tribe. Monrovia, Liberia.
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