ETHNONYMS: Chelofes, Galofes, Guiolof, Gyloffes, Ialofes, Iolof, Jalof, Jolof, Olof, Ouoloff, Valaf, Volof, Wollufs, Yaloffs, Yolof The colour white was a symbol of males. ); from Mali, Figure of a kneeling woman; circa 1500; wood; height: 35.2cm (1378 in. Each isolated village or district (canton) in the region has a headman or chief (hogon) who has both religious and judicial responsibilities. The Dogon migrated after the empire's collapse to the cliffs of the Bandiagara plateau. Hogon live alone and should be celibat In Dogon thought, males and females are born with both sexual components. However, even in polygynous marriages, it is rare for a man to have more than two wives. Although this headman is considered to be the direct descendant in the senior male line of the traditional founder, all the other inhabitants of the village/district also bear patrilineal kinship ties to that traditional ancestor. I have written a book and several peer reviewed journal articles. The degree of complexity of the ceremonies depends upon the age and status of the deceased male. [15] These jihadic expeditions formed themselves to force the Dogon to abandon their traditional religious beliefs for Islam. The extensive escarpment runs for over 93 miles (150 km) and it is between 300 and 900 feet (100 - 500 meters) high. Both sexes market, fish, and gather wild foods. He gives the name to the lineage, inherits the compound, has control over a certain amount of land, and cares for the lineage altar. Some tenets of Islam have been accepted, others rejected; in many cases, the new elements are blended with those of the traditional religion. [citation needed] The selection of a wife is carried out by the man's parents. This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 14:24. WebDogon Female Ancestor Sculpture. ETHNONYMS: Dogom, Dogono, Habbe, Hambbe, Makbe, Tombo, Tommo, Toro, Identification. [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. This marks the end of their youth, and they are initiated. Kinship Terminology. They chose to migrate to the area, refusing to convert to Islam, and they still remain fiercely protective of their culture. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). 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. The principal domestic animals are sheep, goats, donkeys, dogs, chickens, guinea fowls, ducks, some cattle, a few horses, and cats. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. At present I am a Read More. Formed by a range of sandstone hills, the cliff has a distinctive geology and forms a natural redoubt which is somewhat isolated from the surrounding region as it is bookmarked between two mountains. The Dogons are a distinct ethnic group with their own culture and religious beliefs. Historically, Dogon villages were established in the Bandiagara area a thousand years ago because the people collectively refused to convert to Islam and retreated from areas controlled by Muslims.[5]. The Dogon people were not the first inhabitants of the cliffs of Bandiagara. He is elected from among the oldest men of the dominant lineage of the village. Ritual dance of Dogon County (Gleeson, G / CC BY 2.0 ). However, the gender is deliberately ambiguous, and it may be intended to represent a nommo a mythological hermaphroditic ancestor. First marriages are generally arranged by parents; within certain limitations, those marrying for the second or third time are more free to choose their partners. Amsterdam: Time-Life Books B.V. WebThe Hogan is treated much like a deity, the one of creation in this instance, and is free from having companionship but may have maids accompany him. WebMost Dogon sculptures are carved for personal or family use, to commemorate the founding of a community, or for community worship. 16th-20th Century. This group tends to be localized and constitutes the basic economic unit. The Dogon are primarily agriculturalists and cultivate millet, sorghum and rice, as well as onions, tobacco, peanuts, and some other vegetables. "[46], More recently, doubts have been raised about the validity of Griaule and Dieterlen's work. Identification. 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 The circumcision is celebrated and the initiated boys go around and receive presents. It was first inhabited by the Tellem, Stone Age hunters, at least 10,000 years ago. During the danyim, masqueraders perform dances every morning and evening for any period up to six days, depending on that village's practice. In the shadowy world of ancient warfare, one weapon stood out as a true marvel: Greek fire. What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? [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. 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. In 1995, gravitational studies indeed showed the possible presence of a brown dwarf star orbiting around Sirius (a Sirius-C) with a six-year orbital period. 32, No. "Mythes et organisation sociale au Soudan franais". Each Dogon village, or enlarged family, is headed by one male elder. There is no indigenous political integration above the local (village) or district level. After his election, he has to follow a six-month initiation period, during which he is not allowed to shave or wash. The village of Songho has a circumcision cave ornamented with red and white rock paintings of animals and plants. The blacksmith performs the circumcision. [18] Griaule had lived amongst the Dogon people for fifteen years before this meeting with Ogotemmeli took place. Another 10% practices Christianity. 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). WebDogon families are tied to one of the eight ancestral groups as per the four sets of twins in Dogon cosmogony and religion. 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? Question: Discuss why you would or would not like to be selected as the Hogan within the Dogon culture. Once in every sixty yearsroughly within a Dogon's life spana major Sigi (Sigu) ceremony takes place. [Editor's Note: In this article the established spellings of Kota words have been retained, al, ETHNONYMS: none Africa, 38(1), 16-25, Available at: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/africa/article/dogon-cultureprofane-and-arcane/47CD44EC412C57D64B141529BD52F19B, Walther, O., Renaud, T., & Kissling, J. Industrial Arts. Paris: ditions Domat-Montchrestien, F. Loviton. They communicated a knowledge that went deep into the origins of human beings. There are twelve categories of disease considered treatable, each with its own specific healer who has special knowledge of the specific plant that will bring about a cure. This practice has been passed down for generations and is always followed, even during winter. The Dogon attribute illness to a variety of causes, such as the weakening of the vital life force (nyama), the creation of a state of impurity in the individual through the influences of evil spirits, violation of a taboo or prohibition, and sorcery. The 'Awa' is characterized by the intricate masks worn by members during rituals. 'We have in the Dogon information a predictive mechanism which it is our duty to test, regardless of our preconceptions.' Nearby is a cave where music instruments are stored. As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. Afterwards, the boys stay for a few days in a hut separated from the rest of the village people, until the wounds have healed. ', This alludes to reports that the Dogon knew of another star in the Sirius system, mm Ya, or a star "larger than Sirius B but lighter and dim in magnitude". It is likely that the Dogon of today are descendants of several groups of diverse origin who migrated to escape Islamization. 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. The hogon is always a man. The Dogon believes that the sacred serpent Lebe comes during the night to purify him and communicate wisdom to him. "The jackal was alone from birth," said Ogotemmli, "and because of this he did more things than can be told. "[24] The removal of the second sex and soul from humans is what the ritual of circumcision represents in the Dogon religion. Circumcision and excision are once again the remedy."[27]. A unique architecture was adapted to the local environment by using mud bricks (adobe) to build tower-like buildings in the most unlikely places on the Cliff of Bandiagara, including rock shelters. One of its most distinctive features is the hierarchical series of occupational "castes" or status groups consisting of iron- and leatherworkers, griots (lineage genealogists), musicians, poets, and sorcerers. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. Encyclopedia of World Cultures. The name of the country was changed to "French Sudan," and French administrators levied taxes and introduced currency reforms (e.g., French francs to replace the native cowrie shells). Kin Groups and Descent. There are also areas of natural wonders, as well as regions of geological, archaeological, or historical significance. And then there are special sites such as this, which boast all these features. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. The Dogon are best identified for their religious traditions, the mask dances, wooden Until the dama is completed, the soul of the deceased wanders on the southern outskirts of the village, sometimes in the bush or around its former dwelling. He has an armband with a sacred pearl that symbolises his function. 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