It was held once every sixty years and allegedly celebrated the white dwarf star, Sirius B. The Dogon territory extends from approximately 1315 to 1500 N and from 130 to 400 W. The population is concentrated in some 300 villages along a 145-kilometer stretch of escarpment called the Cliffs of Bandiagara. Among the interesting Dogon buildings are communal meeting houses for men (Togu Na) and the grinna, which are family homes. 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? Starting in the northeastern part of Dogon territory, each village takes turns celebrating and hosting elaborate feasts, ceremonies, and festivities. Circumcision and excision are once again the remedy."[27]. 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During this time, new masks are carved and dedicated to their ancestors. The funerary ceremonies of the Dogon consist of two parts: the initial rites, which take place immediately following death and continue for about a week, and the more elaborate dama rites that terminate the mourning period after an indeterminate period of time. Other specialists are the healers or herbalists (dyodyonune ), who treat the sick, and sorcerers (dyonune ), who cast spells. Current Anthropology, Vol. The principal ceremonies center around agriculture and death. They speak the Dogon languages, which are considered to constitute an independent branch of the However, even in polygynous marriages, it is rare for a man to have more than two wives. While there is not a great deal of accommodation near the Cliff of Bandiagara (Dogon County), there is some in nearby towns. [5], The hogon may conduct rituals in the Sanctuaire de Binou, a special building the door of which is blocked with rocks. Wood, covered with sacrifical materials, Seated Couple, Dogon, Mali. This announces the entrance of persons wearing the masks used in this ceremony, while the deceased's entrance to his home in the family compound is decorated with ritual elements (Davis, 7273). Ceremonies. Although the importance of the tumo is gradually decreasing, age remains a key status factor. Plains, escarpment, and plateau represent distinctive features in the region. ETHNONYMS: Cohatur, Kohatur, Kotar, Koter, Kothur 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. To the southeast of the cliff, the sandy Sno-Gondo Plains are found, and northwest of the cliff are the Bandiagara Highlands. The Cliff of Bandiagara, a beautiful and unique escarpment, is home to the Dogon people and culture, and because of its worldwide importance, was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1989. Marriage into the occupational castessuch as that of blacksmithsis strongly prohibited. While the castes are correlated to profession, membership is determined by birth. The development of tourism in the Dogon Country and the Hombori Mountains (Mali) . Conflict. The spread of Islam throughout Africa has brought about some degree of change in the basic religious orientation of the Dogon. It is advisable to hire a guide with a car as the area is remote. 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. There are at least five distinct groups of dialects. Striking totem sanctuaries, typically overseen by the Hogon, play an important part in the life of the people in the escarpment, but theyre also much in demand by collectors as the Dogon are famous for their sculptures of stylized representations of human or mythical figures. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [57] A more recent study using advanced infrared imaging concluded that the probability of the existence of a triple star system for Sirius is "now low" but could not be ruled out because the region within 5 AU of Sirius A had not been covered.[58]. WebThe Hogon is the spiritual and political leader of the village. 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). 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. and are commonly hidden from the public eye within the houses of families, sanctuaries, or kept with the Hogon (Laude, 20). 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Ogotemmli classified the Nummo as hermaphrodites. The hogon is always a man. After his election, he has to follow a six-month initiation period, during which he is not allowed to shave or wash. 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. In the shadowy world of ancient warfare, one weapon stood out as a true marvel: Greek fire. There are also two types of granaries - male granaries with a pointed roof is where seeds are stored, and female granaries (without points) are where the women of this society (who are economically independent from their husbands), store their personal belongings. Two of the most specialized craftsleather- and ironworkingare restricted exclusively to members of a craft caste. This marks the end of their youth, and they are initiated. Influence from Tellem art is evident in Dogon art because of its rectilinear designs (Laude, 24). The Yana Gulay mask's purpose is to impersonate a Fulani woman, and is made from cotton cloth and cowl shells. The escarpment is rich in archaeological discoveries both from the Dogon and the earlier Tellem society. A virgin who has not yet had her period takes care of him, cleans his house, and prepares his meals. Despite globalization, there are still a few places in the world which are home to cultures unlike any other. The hogon is assisted in office by a sacrificial totem priest (yebene ), three bodyguards or policemen, a public crier or herald, and an ambassador who deals with other districts. [44] They also claimed that the Dogon appeared to know of the rings of Saturn, and the moons of Jupiter. . Those who follow this spiritual path believe in one Supreme Creator, Amma (or Ama [9] ), [10] the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent Creator. The problem of "twin births" versus "single births", or androgyny versus single-sexed beings, was said to contribute to a disorder at the beginning of time. [19] What makes the record so important from a historical perspective is that the Dogon people were still living in their oral culture at the time their religion was recorded. Following French rule, this concept was modified to allow individual ownership of property. There are two endogamous castes in Dogon society: the smiths and the leather-workers. Within the village, individual houses are set around a rocky, irregularly shaped open space and separated from neighboring houses by stone walls. When a woman leaves her husband, she takes with her only the youngest childthe remaining children stay with the husband's family. The Dogon are primarily agriculturalists and cultivate millet, sorghum and rice, as well as onions, tobacco, peanuts, and some other vegetables. This enigmatic figure is an ancestor figure from the Dogon people of Mali. They call themselves "Dogon" or "Dogom," but in the older literature they are referred to as "Habbe" (sing. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. One relates to their coming from Mande, located to the southwest of the Bandiagara escarpment near Bamako. A younger brother is first in line to inherit all collective property, followed by the eldest son. Corrections? [23] They were symbolized by the colour red, a female symbol. [37] Women have no right to learn Sigui So. I have written a book and several peer reviewed journal articles. Some young men will hunt for small game, but wild animals are relatively scarce near villages. The first wife, or ya biru, holds a higher position in the family relative to any wives from later marriages. Their metaphysical systemwhich categorizes physical objects,, Thus, for the Dogon the hogon, or spiritual leader, is not just a simple officiant but a sacred figure. Dogon damas include the use of many masks, which they wore by securing them in their teeth, and statuettes. The masqueraders dance on the rooftops of the deceased's compound, throughout the village, and in the area of fields around the village (Davis, 68). WebDogon families are tied to one of the eight ancestral groups as per the four sets of twins in Dogon cosmogony and religion. ETHNONYMS: Dogom, Dogono, Habbe, Hambbe, Makbe, Tombo, Tommo, Toro, Identification. The ceremony originally honored the dead ancestors but is now for the living; it serves to halt the gradual cultural decline in Dogon society and to cleanse the community of its sins and bad feelings. While the people keep chickens or herds of sheep and goats in Dogon villages, animal husbandry holds little economic value. [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). How the Dogon Preserved Their Unique Culture Along The Cliff Where diseases are considered to be supernaturally based or the result of sorcery, a healer-diviner is called in who determines the cause of the disease (through divination), then offers sacrifices, magical charms, and incantations to bring about a cure. Each village is composed of one main lineage (occasionally, multiple lineages make up a single village) traced through the male line. Divorce is not uncommon; it occurs most often in polygynous households. Unfortunately, the majority of these animistic spiritual practices tend to disappear with the younger generations and the widespread adoption of Islam. , animal husbandry holds little economic value, Sirius B to hire guide. Holds little economic value are home to cultures unlike any other shaped space! 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