Wood, covered with sacrifical materials, Seated Couple, Dogon, Mali. [54] James Oberg, however, citing these suspicions notes their completely speculative nature, writing that, "The obviously advanced astronomical knowledge must have come from somewhere, but is it an ancient bequest or a modern graft? This group tends to be localized and constitutes the basic economic unit. After initiation, the Hogon wears a red fez. [20] The religion embraced many aspects of nature which are found in other traditional African religions. African religions: Ritual and religious specialists. Dieterlen, G., 1955. Afterwards, the boys stay for a few days in a hut separated from the rest of the village people, until the wounds have healed. [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]. 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). Marriages are endogamous in that the people are limited to marry only persons within their clan and within their caste.[29]. It was first inhabited by the Tellem, Stone Age hunters, at least 10,000 years ago. 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. Top image: Cliff of Bandiagara Source: Public Domain, Bolland, R. (1991). [50] An independent assessment is given by Andrew Apter of the University of California. However, the gender is deliberately ambiguous, and it may be intended to represent a nommo a mythological hermaphroditic ancestor. "[46], More recently, doubts have been raised about the validity of Griaule and Dieterlen's work. WebDogon Female Ancestor Sculpture. Each Dogon village, or enlarged family, is headed by one male elder. 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. Socialization. Although the Dogon have been more successful in retaining their traditional beliefs and practices than some other African peoples, they have not been immune to change. Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. Unfortunately, the majority of these animistic spiritual practices tend to disappear with the younger generations and the widespread adoption of Islam. 23 Feb. 2023 . African art and culture had been a driving inspiration to European modern artists like Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, and Amedeo Modigliani, among others. 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. Encyclopedia.com. A virgin who has not yet had her period takes care of him, cleans his house, and prepares his meals. Palau Marti, Montserrat (1957). . Orientation Dogon art consists primarily of sculptures. In the 7th century AD, the Byzantine Empire harnessed the power of fire with the creation of Greek fire, a weapon of destruction unlike any before its time. The Dogon people were not the first inhabitants of the cliffs of Bandiagara. The Dogon use this entertainment to earn income by charging tourists money for the masks they want to see and for the ritual itself (Davis, 68). Was this German silver mine really defended by two Roman forts and a line of "spike defenses? The Satimbe mask represents the women ancestors, who are said to have discovered the purpose of the masks by guiding the spirits of the deceased into the afterlife (Davis, 74). Dogon funeral rituals come in two parts. Blood alliances frequently were contracted between the Dogon and other groups such as the Bozo. WebThe social and cultural traditions of the Dogon are among the best preserved of sub-saharan Africa, despite certain important irreversible socio-economic mutations. Two of the most specialized craftsleather- and ironworkingare restricted exclusively to members of a craft caste. Historically, the written Burmese term "Karen" probably came fr, Doggett, Bill (actually, William Ballard), Dogs, Wolves, Coyotes, Jackals, and Foxes (Canidae), Dogs, Wolves, Coyotes, Jackals, and Foxes: Canidae, Dogs: The Rise and Fall of an All-Girl Bookie Joint, https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/dogon. These are two story building with separate areas for men and women. Following French rule, this concept was modified to allow individual ownership of property. ); from Mali, Figure of a kneeling woman; circa 1500; wood; height: 35.2cm (1378 in. The economy of the Sangha region has doubled since then, and its onions are sold as far as the market of Bamako and those of the Ivory Coast. Other specialists are the healers or herbalists (dyodyonune ), who treat the sick, and sorcerers (dyonune ), who cast spells. Dogon damas include the use of many masks, which they wore by securing them in their teeth, and statuettes. ETHNONYMS: Cohatur, Kohatur, Kotar, Koter, Kothur In a polygynous marriage, the wives reside in separate houses within the husband's compound. [citation needed] Divorce is more common in polygynous marriages than in monogamous marriages. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. This leads linguists to conclude that Dogon is likely to have diverged from NigerCongo very early.[when?] WebThe Hogon is the spiritual and political leader of the village. The dama consists of an event, known as the Halic, that is held immediately after the death of a person and lasts for one day (Davis, 68). Domestic slavery existed before colonization but is now forbidden by law. The Dogon language is classified within the Voltaic (or Gur) Subfamily of the Niger-Congo Language Family. Wood and metal and more. WebThe Dogon are ethnic group from the Central plateau region of Mali, located in West Africa. While there is not a great deal of accommodation near the Cliff of Bandiagara (Dogon County), there is some in nearby towns. Such persons must submit to a number. The blind Dogon elder Ogotemmeli taught the main symbols of the Dogon religion to French anthropologist Marcel Griaule in October 1946. 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. 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. Man in Peru Caught Out Drinking With an 800-year-old Mummy! Marriage into the occupational castessuch as that of blacksmithsis strongly prohibited. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. [citation needed][why?] The cliffs and rocky terrain provided excellent protection from slave A hogon is a spiritual leader in a Dogon village who plays an important role in Dogon religion. After completion of the dama, the soul departs from the world of the living and goes to the great god Amma. The vast majority of marriages are monogamous, but nonsororal polygynous marriages are allowed in the Dogon culture. Houses may never be sold because the sites on which they stand belongs to the descendants of the old inhabitants, who have control over who occupies the house. Division of Labor. The Dogon live in compact, occasionally walled villages built up the sides of the escarpment. At this time, new masks are carved and dedicated to the ancestors. The household is usually an extended family consisting of both nuclear and polygynous units. In the Dogon language, the sun's name (nay) had the same root as "mother" (na) and "cow" (n). [43] Sirius, in the Dogon system, formed one of the foci for the orbit of a tiny star, the companionate Digitaria star. Ceremonies. European contact was first made in 1857. The answer is sewa, which means that everything is fine. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. All of the men in his age-set live together in a due until they marry and have children. Universit de Paris, Travaux et Mmoires de l'Institut d'Ethnologie, 33. Morton, Robert (ed.) Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. These caste groups live apart from the general population. Religious Practitioners. Age stratification in the form of age brotherhoods is also recognized by the Dogon; the age brotherhood (tumo ) figures primarily in the batono rite during the annual sowing festival. 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. The Dogon people with whom French anthropologists Griaule and Germaine Dieterlen worked during the 1930s and 1940s had a system of signs which ran into the thousands, including "their own systems of astronomy and calendrical measurements, methods of calculation and extensive anatomical and physiological knowledge, as well as a systematic pharmacopoeia". 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." According to this oral tradition, the first Dogon settlement was established in the extreme southwest of the escarpment at Kani-Na. Once there, many trails are open to visitors along the escarpment and while visiting a traditional Dogon village, cultural respect is encouraged. This enigmatic figure is an ancestor figure from the Dogon people of Mali. [citation needed] After a couple has had children together, divorce is a rare and serious matter, and it requires the participation of the whole village. 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). 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. Land Tenure. "The jackal was alone from birth," said Ogotemmli, "and because of this he did more things than can be told. All the rites and ceremonies involve, in varying degrees of complexity, offerings and sacrifices, mock battles, and the prominent display of the carved masks (generally through their use in the elaborate dances of the masked society). Ritual dance of Dogon County (Gleeson, G / CC BY 2.0 ). Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Since the twentieth century, there have been significant changes in the social organisation, material culture and beliefs of the Dogon, in part because Dogon country is one of Mali's major tourist attractions. 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). [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). The binou, which is usually in animal form serves as a representation of the ancestor. 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? ); Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City). In the shadowy world of ancient warfare, one weapon stood out as a true marvel: Greek fire. Masked Dancers of West Africa: The Dogon. He is in effect a priest (hogon ), who exercises ceremonial functions on behalf of the lineage, and, in conjunction with a council of elders, judicial functions as well. In referring to relatives, linguistic usage distinguishes between the forms of address and the specific relationship. Hogon live alone and should be celibat The ritual language, "Sigi so" or "language of the Sigui", which was taught to male dignitaries of the Society of the Masks ("awa"), was considered a poor language. Linguistic Affiliation. WebAlthough 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 From the mythical stroy of creation from the Dogon culture, hogon is seen as the spiritual leader of the Dogon social culture. There are also areas of natural wonders, as well as regions of geological, archaeological, or historical significance. "[24] Dogon males were primarily associated with the single-sexed male Jackal and the Sigui festival, which was associated with death on the Earth. Every four days, Dogon people participate in markets with neighboring tribes, such as the Fulani and the Dyula. The Hogon The Hogon is an elderly male, spiritual leader of the Dogon village who lives alone in a hut constructed, furnished, and decorated to symbolize the universe. [12] See also [ edit] Pangool Mand creation myth Samay (mythology) Zin (water spirits) Traditional African religion portal Mali portal References [ edit] Organisation sociale des dogon (Soudan Franais). [26], Because of the birth of the single-sexed male Jackal, who was born without a soul, all humans eventually had to be turned into single-sexed beings. The Dogon also believe in various malevolent and benevolent spirits who populate the bush, trees, and uninhabited places. 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. This practice has been passed down for generations and is always followed, even during winter. He wears white clothes and nobody is allowed to touch him. Their eyes were red, their tongues forked, and their arms flexible and unjointed.[21]. WebThe Hogon must live alone in his house. 'Sigi' is a society-wide ritual to honor and recognize the first ancestors. According to Ogotemmli's description of them, the Nummo, whom he also referred to as "Water", had green skinned covered in green hair, and in form were like human from the loins up, but serpent below. Their bodies are treated [44] They also claimed that the Dogon appeared to know of the rings of Saturn, and the moons of Jupiter. Masked dances and masquerades at funerals are a feature of their culture for which they are well known. Circumcision and excision are once again the remedy."[27]. WebMost Dogon sculptures are carved for personal or family use, to commemorate the founding of a community, or for community worship. The hogon is always a man. [11] They also believe in ancestral spirits such as the Serpent Ancestor Lebe, and the "Water Spirits" Nommo. Today, at least 35% of the Dogon practice Islam. When a woman leaves her husband, she takes with her only the youngest childthe remaining children stay with the husband's family. [Editor's Note: In this article the established spellings of Kota words have been retained, al, ETHNONYMS: none This theme was fundamental to the Dogon religion. Boys are circumcised in age groups of three years, counting for example all boys between 9 and 12 years old. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there existcountless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts thathave yet to be discovered and explained. They were one of the last people in West Africa to lose their independence and come under French rule.[18]. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. 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. Descended from the founding ancestor Dyon, the hogon [51], In a 1978 critique, skeptic Ian Ridpath concluded: "There are any number of channels by which the Dogon could have received Western knowledge long before they were visited by Griaule and Dieterlen. The Chilling Mystery of the Octavius Ghost Ship, What is a Wendigo? Encyclopedia of World Cultures. Corrections? [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. 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. Today, at least 35% of the Dogon practice Islam. Other crops include sesame, maize, peanuts, yams, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, okra, watermelons, papayas, some figs, gourds, and cotton. 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. The clitoris is considered male, while the foreskin is considered female. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Masques dogons. The blacksmith, set apart by his caste, has no rights in the village and lives entirely on the proceeds of the sale of his goods to other villagers. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. The mausoleum was built during the reign of Timur, the ruler of the Timurid Empire. Some of the most beautiful sights to see in China are the classical Suzhou gardens. Individuals with high status may own a small number of cattle.[30]. Because the word sewa is so commonly repeated throughout a Dogon village, neighboring peoples have dubbed the Dogon the sewa people. The district headman is also head of his lineage and occupies the "great house" (ginna) of that kin group. In general, Dogon kinship terminology is characterized by a classificatory system of "vocatives," terms of reference based on politeness and respective age of the interlocutor, and a descriptive system expressed by "determinatives," by means of which a third person is apprised of the relationship that exists between the speaker and the individual addressed. Craft specialization is determined by gender and caste. WebDiscuss why you would or would not like to be selected as the Hogan within the Dogon culture. Kado), a Fulbe word meaning "stranger" or "pagan.". Death and Afterlife. You'll get a detailed solution from a subject matter expert that helps you learn core concepts. Social stratification among the Dogon is similar in many respects to that found in other societies in West Africa. Domestic Unit. '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. 35 Issue 2. Identification. Prior to the birth of the first child, the wife lives at the home of her parents, while her husband continues to reside in the bachelor quarters where he has lived from the age of 8 to 10. [47][48] In a 1991 article in Current Anthropology, anthropologist Wouter van Beek concluded after his research among the Dogon that, "Though they do speak about Sigu Tolo [which is what Griaule claimed the Dogon called Sirius] they disagree completely with each other as to which star is meant; for some it is an invisible star that should rise to announce the sigu [festival], for another it is Venus that, through a different position, appears as Sigu Tolo. Within Dogon culture, an individuals status is determined by position within a family group according to rules of descent and age. The principal ceremonies center around agriculture and death. After his election, he has to follow a six-month initiation period, during which he is not allowed to shave or wash. 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. Paris: Institut d'Ethnologie. 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. They make music on a special instrument that is made of a rod of wood and calabashes that makes the sound of a rattle. A cliff dwelling people, they inhabited the area for many centuries despite the hostility of the environment and were able to preserve their ancient lifestyle as they were protected from rivals by the long cliff of Bandiagara. Were one of the Legendary Atlantis three years, counting for example all boys 9. Repeated throughout a Dogon village, or historical significance society-wide ritual to honor recognize. ( ginna ) of that kin group what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article title clitoris.: Cliff of Bandiagara Source: Public Domain, Bolland, R. ( 1991 ) of.. 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