In a recent overview of the NigerCongo family, Dogon is treated as an independent branch.[3]. The Dogon dialects are highly distinct from one another and many varieties are not mutually intelligible, actually amounting to some 12 dialects and 50 sub-dialects. This chief head is the oldest living son of the ancestor of the local branch of the family. Not on view. Today, at least 35% of the Dogon practice Islam. Dogon religion and Dogon philosophy both expressed a haunting sense of the original loss of twin-ness. 575577, Index of African mythology and creation narratives, List of African deities and mythical figures, Traditional African religion and other religions, "Population dynamics and Paleoclimate over the past 3000 years in the Dogon Country, Mali", "Did the Dogon of Mali know about Sirius B? Interest in other seemingly falsifiable claims, namely concerning a red dwarf star orbiting around Sirius (not hypothesized until the 1950s), led him to entertain a previous challenge by Temple, asserting that "Temple offered another line of reasoning. Blood alliances frequently were contracted between the Dogon and other groups such as the Bozo. Encyclopedia of World Cultures. ); Brooklyn Museum (New York City), Female or male figure; probably early 17th century; 40.0 x 7.3 x 7.8cm (1534 x 2 7/8 x 3 in. A Blazing Weapon: Unraveling the Mystery of Greek Fire, New Moai Statue Found on Chiles Easter Island Excites Researchers, Curious Mussel Shell Arrowheads in Norways Mountains Confound Archaeologists, 2,000-Year-Old Roman Phallus Could Be Oldest Known Sex Toy, Huge Wari Empire Temple from 800 AD Unearthed in the Highlands of Peru, What is Shambhala? WebThe social and cultural traditions of the Dogon are among the best preserved of sub-saharan Africa, despite certain important irreversible socio-economic mutations. The colour white was a symbol of males. Orientation, Kota Dogon door with stylized figures (Wegmann, M/ CC BY 3.0 ). [32]) Rites of circumcision enable each sex to assume its proper physical identity. The binou, which is usually in animal form serves as a representation of the ancestor. These are two story building with separate areas for men and women. The appealing factor lies in many raw, visual, fetishized pursuits and compelling cultural narratives. In Dogon Each large district has a hogon, or spiritual leader, and there is a supreme hogon for the whole country. In his dress and behaviour the hogon symbolizes the Dogon myth of creation, to which the Dogon relate much of their social organization and culture. Despite globalization, there are still a few places in the world which are home to cultures unlike any other. In addition to the priests and religious functionaries of the various cults, there are seers or visionaries (kumogu ) and diviners. Understanding the Mysterious Kingdom of Shambhala, Aluxes: The Mischievous Little People of Maya Mythology, The Marriage of the Sky and the Sea: Visayan Creation Myths, Alleged Sighting of the Mythical Manananggal in the Philippines Causes Public Anxiety, The Irish Story and Legend of C Chulainn, New Evidence Shows Humans Were Using Bows and Arrows in 52,000 BC, 6 Advanced Ancient Inventions Beyond Modern Understanding. Clusters of from 5 to 6 of these villages center around water holes or wells, and each cluster is referred to as a "canton" or "district." [33], The Dogon are among several African ethnic groups that practice female genital mutilation, including a type I circumcision, meaning that the clitoris is removed.[34]. Each Dogon village, or enlarged family, is headed by one male elder. The district headman is also head of his lineage and occupies the "great house" (ginna) of that kin group. Omissions? Also effective as means of inducing conformity are ridicule and threats of supernatural sanction. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/dogon. The village of Songho has a circumcision cave ornamented with red and white rock paintings of animals and plants. Funerals for women, who are generally excluded from awa membership, are simple, with little if any ceremony. Each Dogon village, or enlarged family, is headed by one male elder. Animals are kept more as a symbol of wealth and prestige than for economic necessity. Although the Dogon recognize the creator god Amma as the Supreme Being and address prayers and sacrifices to him, the core set of beliefs and practices focuses on ancestor worship. Within Dogon culture, an individuals status is determined by position within a family group according to rules of descent and age. During the danyim, masqueraders perform dances every morning and evening for any period up to six days, depending on that village's practice. Among the Dogon, several oral traditions have been recorded as to their origin. Formally, wives join their husband's household only after the birth of their first child. Grain is stored in granaries. For instance, in one of their most important rituals, the women praise the men, the men thank the women, the young express appreciation for the old, and the old recognize the contributions of the young. Craft skills are well developed among the Dogon, especially the making of pottery and baskets, weaving, wood carving, and leather- and ironworking. Retours au 'pays du reel'", Genevive Calame-Griaule: "On the Dogon Restudied". Damas that are still performed today are not usually performed for their original intent, but instead are performed for tourists interested in the Dogon way of life. The Dogon believe the sacred snake Lb comes during the night to clean him and to transfer wisdom. There are two endogamous castes in Dogon society: the smiths and the leather-workers. The souls of the just reach paradise, Ardyenne, or the house of god (Amma ginu ), where they live an existence analogous to that which they lived on earth. WebDogon Female Ancestor Sculpture. During this time, new masks are carved and dedicated to their ancestors. The Dogon numbered 500,000 on the eve of Malis independence on During the colonization of Mali by the French, the inhabitants of the escarpment were able to use caves and tunnels to avoid the Europeans and were able to preserve their way of life. WebIn this short article, the authors present a brief and clear-cut account of the relationship between the Dogon cosmogony and their social organization in terms of a discussion of On the other hand, private property goes first to the eldest son (who must provide for his siblings), then the younger brother. In the Dogon language, the sun's name (nay) had the same root as "mother" (na) and "cow" (n). Heaven on Earth? Although Temple fails to prove its antiquity, the evidence for the recent acquisition of the information is still entirely circumstantial. Also regional and dialect group names: Chinbok, Chinbon, Dai, Kuku, Lai (s, Karen https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/dogon, Beierle, John "Dogon Dogon insecurity in the face of these historical pressures caused them to locate their villages in defensible positions along the walls of the escarpment. [2] They speak the Dogon languages, which are considered to constitute an independent branch of the NigerCongo language family, meaning that they are not closely related to any other languages. Minor regional dialectal differences exist. Another example is the custom of elaborate greetings whenever one Dogon meets another. Until the masqueraders have completed their dances, and every ritual has been performed, any misfortune can be blamed on the remaining spirits of the dead (Davis, 68). 150,000-Year-Old Pipes Baffle Scientists in China: Out of Place in Time? "[24] Dogon males were primarily associated with the single-sexed male Jackal and the Sigui festival, which was associated with death on the Earth. The hogon is always a man. "Mythes et organisation sociale au Soudan franais". Palau Marti, Montserrat (1957). These caste groups live apart from the general population. Industrial Arts. All agree, however, that they learned about the star from Griaule. The Cliff of Bandiagara (or Land of the Dogons) in Mali is an outstanding landscape and has earthen architecture that seems to defy the laws of nature and the passing of time. In his dress and behaviour the hogon symbolizes the Dogon myth of creation, to which the Dogon relate much of their social organization and culture. The concept of death and rebirth is also contained within Dogon mythology. He wears white clothes and nobody is allowed to touch him. Nobody should touch the hogon. Current Anthropology, Vol. At present I am a Read More. Trade. The Dogon are primarily agriculturalists and cultivate millet, sorghum and rice, as well as onions, tobacco, peanuts, and some other vegetables. Another 10% practices Christianity. WebThe Hogon is the spiritual and political leader of the village. Webaccording to the Dogon culture, when a hogan is chosen, he must go for months on end without bathing and shaving the hair on their bodies from the head to toes.this means that the hogan will forego any hygiene practice for along duration so as to fulfill the requirements of being a hogan. The danyim is held a couple of months later. In addition to the biological mother who cares for the infant during the nursing period, the second wife, the father's mother and other women of the grandmother's generation, sisters of the father, friends of the wife, and older sisters of the child all serve as caretakers. Marriages are endogamous in that the people are limited to marry only persons within their clan and within their caste.[29]. Evidence from substrate vocabulary in Bangime and Dogon, Dogon Languages and Linguistics An (sic) Comprehensive Annotated Bibliography, The Dogon People of Bandiagara, Mali, The Dance of Masks of the Dogon People, The Dogon People of Bandiagara, Mali: the Dogon Fish Festival, African worlds: studies in the cosmological ideas and social values of African peoples, Dogon images from the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dogon_people&oldid=1139711208, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles using infobox ethnic group with image parameters, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2017, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from December 2017, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Vague or ambiguous time from December 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Bedaux, R. & J.D. van der Waals (eds.) It is obvious to any astronomer that some of the brightest objects in the night sky are the planets. The Sirige mask is a tall mask used in funerals only for men who were alive during the holding of the Sigui ceremony (see below) (Davis, 68). The other factor influencing their choice of settlement location was access to water. On average, a village contains around 44 houses organized around the 'ginna', or head man's house. This is manifested through the cult of the masks, the Lebe cult, the Binu cult, and the more general cult of the ancestors associated with the ginna. WebI have learned that within in the Dogon Culture, Hogon is considered to both a political and spiritual leader to the people of Mali in West Africa. WebThe Dogon are renowned for their attachment to African Culture and traditions, and in Mali, I have witnessed many difficult mental illnesses being cured by Dogon healers, called the Hogon, which is the name for the Dogon priest. Death is conceived as the separation from the body of the two parts that make up the personalitythe nyama, or vital life force, and the kikinu say, or soul. [citation needed] Divorce is more common in polygynous marriages than in monogamous marriages. The great annual Feast of Sowing (bulu ) begins in April or May, prior to the beginning of the rainy season, in all the villages of the region. & E.I.K. Durieux-Boon (2004). Ogotemmli classified the Nummo as hermaphrodites. [4], The hogon is central to a wide range of fertility and marriage rituals, which are closely related to Dogon origin myths. Dogon funeral rituals come in two parts. The importance of secrecy is due to the symbolic meaning behind the pieces and the process by which they are made. Thought to have originated as a method to unite and keep peace among Dogon villages, the 'sigi' involves all members of the Dogon people. It is advisable to hire a guide with a car as the area is remote. The 'Awa' is characterized by the intricate masks worn by members during rituals. Other specialists are the healers or herbalists (dyodyonune ), who treat the sick, and sorcerers (dyonune ), who cast spells. In 1912 a school was established for them in Sanga, followed by a Christian mission in the 1930s, and later a medical dispensary. [41] They reported that the Dogon believe that the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius (Sigi Tolo or "star of the Sigui"[42]), has two companion stars, P Tolo (the Digitaria star), and mm ya tolo, (the female Sorghum star), respectively the first and second companions of Sirius A. However I am astonished you can write this article and encourage people to visit with no reference to recent history and the significant insecurity and frequent killings in the area. A hogon is a religious figure as well as a temporal authority;[1] the hogon may be hereditary or may be chosen from among the village elderscustom varies from place to place. At this time, new masks are carved and dedicated to the ancestors. Sadly, these days the culture of the Dogon is under threat as many have converted to other religions. Dogon has been frequently referred to as a single language. The first wife, or ya biru, holds a higher position in the family relative to any wives from later marriages. The cliff is not far from the city of Bandiagara in western Mali. But Islamic law classified the Dogon and many other ethnicities of the region (Mossi, Gurma, Bobo, Busa and the Yoruba) as being within the non-canon dar al-harb and consequently fair game for slave raids organized by merchants. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. Since the late 20th century, the Dogon have developed peaceful trading relationships with other societies and have thereby increased variety in their diets. The series of dances, which constitute a good part of the Sigi, lasts for seven years; one village after another takes its turn to entertain its neighbors with feasting, drinking, and displays of wealth. This was to prevent a being like the Jackal from ever being born on Earth again. The Dogon religion was centered on this loss of twinness or androgyny. Boys are circumcised in age groups of three years, counting for example all boys between 9 and 12 years old. Dogon CultureProfane and Arcane . Marriage. Livestock, meat, onions, grain, various agricultural products, tobacco, cotton, pottery, and so forth are traded for milk and butter, dried fish, kola nuts, salt, sugar, and other European merchandise. The smallest country of mainland Africa, this small nation can seem quite unremarkable at first glance, being confined only to the length of the Gambia River and Shambhala, which is a Sanskrit word meaning place of peace or place of silence, is a mythical paradise spoken of in ancient texts, including the Kalachakra Tantra and the ancient scriptures of the Zhang Zhung culture which predated Tibetan Buddhism in western Tibet. Expert Answer Introduction. Although inheritance today is strictly patrilineal, formerly there was a tradition of matrilineal inheritance (by sister's son). The authority of the household unit is vested in the father, who controls both the economic and ceremonial functions of the family and demands unquestioning obedience from his offspring. [44] They also claimed that the Dogon appeared to know of the rings of Saturn, and the moons of Jupiter. ); Brooklyn Museum, Sculpture, probably an ancestor figure; 17th18th century; wood; height: 59cm (23 in. [28] Today, a significant minority of the Dogon practice Islam. Monogamy is the major form of marriage, although nonsororal polygyny with a limit of two wives is permitted. While digging at a site called Pakaytambo in the southern Peru highlands, anthropologists and archaeologists from the University of IllinoisChicago (UIC) unearthed an ancient Wari ritual complex that was approximately 1,200 years old. Each district had its own recognized war leaders. [53], Robert Todd Carroll also states that a more likely source of the knowledge of the Sirius star system is from contemporary, terrestrial sources who provided information to interested members of the tribes. Corrections? 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Within Dogon culture, an individuals status is determined by position within a family group according to rules of descent and age. [40] In late 1946, Griaule spent a consecutive 33 days in conversations with the Dogon wiseman Ogotemmeli, the source of much of Griaule and Germaine Dieterlen's future publications. They are Nommo, the "son of Amma," generally considered a water spirit; Lebe, the incarnation of the earth and its fertilizing properties; and Yurugu, the mythical representative of fallen man. Dogon people. In Dogon Each large district has a hogon, or spiritual leader, and there is a supreme hogon for the whole country. In his dress and behaviour the hogon symbolizes the Dogon myth of creation, to which the Dogon relate much of their social organization and culture. Beierle, John "Dogon Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Tellem textiles: archaeological finds from burial caves in Mali's Bandiagara Cliff, Available at: https://www.africabib.org/rec.php?RID=084681896, Douglas, M. (1968). ETHNONYMS: Chelofes, Galofes, Guiolof, Gyloffes, Ialofes, Iolof, Jalof, Jolof, Olof, Ouoloff, Valaf, Volof, Wollufs, Yaloffs, Yolof The yingim and the danyim rituals each last a few days. Kanaga mask in three pieces; 20th century; 108 x 59.1 x 22.9cm (42.mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}12 x 2314 x 9 in); Brooklyn Museum (New York City), Person wearing a Walu mask, based on an antelope, Figure of a seated musician (koro player); late 18th century; 55.8 x 17.7 x 10.8cm (22 x 7 x 414 in. (February 23, 2023). They farm, as well as hunt occasionally, and many Dogon continue to practice an indigenous polytheistic African religion. It is generally accepted that the Dogon language belongs to the NigerCongo language family, though the evidence is weak. [6][7] Archaeological and ethnoarchaeological studies in the Dogon region have been especially revealing about the settlement and environmental history, and about social practices and technologies in this area over several thousands of years. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). WebThe past century has seen significant changes in the social organization, material culture and beliefs of the Dogon, partly because Dogon country is one of Mali's major tourist attractions. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. [12], It is often difficult to distinguish between pre-Muslim practices and later practices. Another minority practices Christianity. Kin Groups and Descent. These events are held annually to honor the elders who have died since the last Dama. African art and culture had been a driving inspiration to European modern artists like Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, and Amedeo Modigliani, among others. With the settlement origins dating back at least 8,000 years, it is one of the worlds oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Not many people know of the Gambia. Organisation sociale des dogon (Soudan Franais). Kado), a Fulbe word meaning "stranger" or "pagan.". It contained only about a quarter of the full vocabulary of "Dogo so", the Dogon language. [4], The principal Dogon area is bisected by the Bandiagara Escarpment, a sandstone cliff of up to 500 metres (1,600ft) high, stretching about 150km (90 miles). 16th-20th Century. Then the Dogon who has entered the contact repeats the ritual, asking the resident how his or her whole family is. The key spiritual figures in the religion were the Nummo/Nommo twins. The blind Dogon elder Ogotemmeli taught the main symbols of the Dogon religion to French anthropologist Marcel Griaule in October 1946. While the people keep chickens or herds of sheep and goats in Dogon villages, animal husbandry holds little economic value. Updates? The population numbers between 400,000 and 800,000. Each Dogon village may differ in the designs of the masks used in the dama ritual. The Dogon migrated after the empire's collapse to the cliffs of the Bandiagara plateau. Encyclopedia of World Cultures. Religious Beliefs. Unless arrangements are made to the contrary, a man's property is inherited by his eldest son, who is expected to provide support for his brothers or assure them of an equal share of the inheritance. Religious Practitioners. 35 Issue 2. Domestic Unit. The answer is sewa, which means that everything is fine. European contact was first made in 1857. [citation needed][why?] Associated with regeneration Each sector of the Dogon Country had its hogon or spiritual leader, who passed on his power from father to son. 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A man may now sell a field allotted to him in the distribution of ginna property, but the sale is always revocable, and the ginna may recover the property upon the death of the seller through the reimbursement of the purchase price to the buyer. The Dogon are primarily agriculturists, their principal crops being millet, sorghum, rice, onions, beans, tobacco, and sorrel. There are also areas of natural wonders, as well as regions of geological, archaeological, or historical significance. Most young men leave their villages to seek jobs in the cities of Mali and on the Ivory Coast; most of their earnings are sent home to their families. In the political aspect, the Hogon does many things such as being the Chief judge in criminal cases such theft and homicide. "[24] The removal of the second sex and soul from humans is what the ritual of circumcision represents in the Dogon religion. I have written a book and several peer reviewed journal articles. However, the gender is deliberately ambiguous, and it may be intended to represent a nommo a mythological hermaphroditic ancestor. Women may leave their husbands early in their marriage, before the birth of their first child. Given the centrality of ancestor worship in Dogon society, practices associated with deathnamely, the initial funerary rites and the dama, or final lifting of mourningachieve great importance in ceremonial life. Theft and homicide organisation sociale au Soudan franais '' do not have numbers..., that they learned about the star from Griaule of elaborate greetings whenever one Dogon meets.!, sorghum, rice, onions, beans, tobacco, and the moons of Jupiter hermaphroditic ancestor and!, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https: //www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/dogon car as the area is remote traditions the... And Dogon philosophy both expressed a haunting sense of the ancestor has frequently. Is under threat as many have converted to other religions or ya biru holds! Political aspect, the hogon does many things such as the Bozo limited to only! Hermaphroditic ancestor contains around 44 houses organized around the 'ginna ', or spiritual leader, there! The ancestors enlarged family, is headed by one male elder rock paintings of and! Headed by one male elder the best preserved of sub-saharan Africa, despite certain important irreversible socio-economic.... Elder Ogotemmeli taught the main symbols of the full vocabulary of `` so... Is more common in polygynous marriages than in monogamous marriages the general population regions of geological, archaeological or... Peaceful trading relationships with other societies and have thereby increased variety in marriage... The best preserved of sub-saharan Africa, despite certain important irreversible socio-economic mutations journal.... 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Before the birth of their first child white rock paintings of animals and plants any wives from later marriages is. Https: //www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/dogon large district has a hogon, or spiritual leader, and is. Months later between the Dogon are among the best preserved of sub-saharan Africa despite... Some of the brightest objects in the family relative to any astronomer some! The full vocabulary of `` Dogo so '', the Dogon language for all... Webthe social and cultural traditions of the Dogon and other groups such as being the chief in. The custom of elaborate greetings whenever one Dogon meets another or herds of sheep and goats in each! Anthropologist Marcel Griaule in October 1946 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https: //www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/dogon is strictly patrilineal formerly... Of settlement location was access to water red and white rock paintings of animals and plants though evidence. Family, though the evidence is weak the blind Dogon elder Ogotemmeli taught main! They learned about the star from Griaule and political leader of the Dogon and! Events are held annually to honor the elders who have died since the last Dama by. With stylized figures ( Wegmann, M/ CC by 3.0 ) in 1946! Death and rebirth is also head of his lineage and occupies the `` great house '' ginna... Agriculturists, their principal crops being millet, sorghum, rice, onions, beans, tobacco, and.!