Around the 10th Century AD., the Gio migrated from present-day Guinea and Mali into Liberia (and minimally intoIvory Coast) due to political turmoil, population growth and land depletion.The Gio resisted the Americo-Liberian military push to subdue the local tribes  in vain. After Liberia became a nation in1847, the new government in Monrovia began pacifying the Gio people and by the early 1900s the once proud and fiercely independent Gio people were peacefully incorporated into the new nation.Dan masks are used for protection and asa channel for communication with the spirit world.