A Liberian Devil

Any masked dancer or performer,whether for entertainment or ritual. Not to be confused with the Euroamerican concept of "devil, "Satanic," or "evil," though this is the way the term was applied by early missionaries and other travellers to Africa. When a Liberian speaks of "devil business," he means something sacred or mysterious connected with tradition. It is still common usage among English-speaking peoples of urban and rural Liberia, but there is an increasing avoidance of such terms by sophisticated Liberians. It is best to learn the specific local names for any ritual figures and to refer to them respectfully by these names.