He is responsible for the creation of three other subordinate beings, the worship of which is the basis of several totemic cults. This leads linguists to conclude that Dogon is likely to have diverged from NigerCongo very early.[when?] There are three principal A secret language known as sigi so is used by members of the men's society (awa ) in connection with religious rites. ETHNONYMS: Chelofes, Galofes, Guiolof, Gyloffes, Ialofes, Iolof, Jalof, Jolof, Olof, Ouoloff, Valaf, Volof, Wollufs, Yaloffs, Yolof [12] Beierle, John "Dogon WebThe Dogon are ethnic group from the Central plateau region of Mali, located in West Africa. There are over 200 Dogon villages across the escarpment and each village has a democratically elected headman (Hogon), who is also their spiritual leader. Hogon live alone and should be celibate, but a village girl may act as a maid. 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. The importance of secrecy is due to the symbolic meaning behind the pieces and the process by which they are made. Each Dogon village, or enlarged family, is headed by one male elder. ETHNONYM: Panjabi The Chilling Mystery of the Octavius Ghost Ship, What is a Wendigo? In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. During a greeting ritual, the person who has entered the contact answers a series of questions about his or her whole family, from the person who was already there. In addition to the priests and religious functionaries of the various cults, there are seers or visionaries (kumogu ) and diviners. 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. 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. The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is a monument in Turkestan, a city in southern Kazakhstan. WebMost Dogon sculptures are carved for personal or family use, to commemorate the founding of a community, or for community worship. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. 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. When a woman leaves her husband, she takes with her only the youngest childthe remaining children stay with the husband's family. [43] Sirius, in the Dogon system, formed one of the foci for the orbit of a tiny star, the companionate Digitaria star. Unlike norms for the rest of society, parallel-cousin marriage is allowed within castes. Although some Dogon accepted the new regime, many strongly opposed and resisted it for many years. 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Orientation, Kota [2], The hogon has a key role in village rituals and in ensuring fertility[3] and germination. Their images or figures appeared on the female side of the Dogon sanctuary. The blacksmith performs the circumcision. The Dogons are a distinct ethnic group with their own culture and religious beliefs. The escarpment is rich in archaeological discoveries both from the Dogon and the earlier Tellem society. This marks the end of their youth, and they are initiated. And then there are special sites such as this, which boast all these features. ETHNONYMS: 'kKxou and related words; Mizo (same as Lushai), Zo, Zomi. They have been linked to the Mande subfamily but also to Gur. As sacred leader of the Lebe cult he oversees the important planting and Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. The development of tourism in the Dogon Country and the Hombori Mountains (Mali) . The clitoris is considered male, while the foreskin is considered female. Divorce is not uncommon; it occurs most often in polygynous households. 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. ETHNONYMS: Cohatur, Kohatur, Kotar, Koter, Kothur This custom is repeated over and over, throughout a Dogon village, all day. 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. Some young men will hunt for small game, but wild animals are relatively scarce near villages. 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. [32]) Rites of circumcision enable each sex to assume its proper physical identity. Circumcision and excision are once again the remedy."[27]. The hogon is always a man. (2008). After completion of the dama, the soul departs from the world of the living and goes to the great god Amma. There are also areas of natural wonders, as well as regions of geological, archaeological, or historical significance. 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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). "[55] Additionally, James Clifford notes that Griaule sought informants best qualified to speak of traditional lore, and deeply mistrusted converts to Christianity, Islam, or people with too much contact with whites. Current Anthropology, Vol. Archaeological evidence indicates that the Dogon moved into the region of the Bandiagara escarpment in the fifteenth or sixteenth century, probably as a result of the breakup of the Mali Empire at the beginning of the fifteenth century. It was held once every sixty years and allegedly celebrated the white dwarf star, Sirius B. Socialization. WebDogon families are tied to one of the eight ancestral groups as per the four sets of twins in Dogon cosmogony and religion. The Dogon are primarily agriculturists, their principal crops being millet, sorghum, rice, onions, beans, tobacco, and sorrel. . Dogon lineage is patrilineal, meaning By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. Omissions? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Villages usually contain a single localized lineage whose dwellings are grouped around the "great house" (ginna ) of the head. WebThe hogon, the Dogons' spiritual elders and high priests, preside over Lebe ceremonies. 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). [28] Today, a significant minority of the Dogon practice Islam. Encyclopedia of World Cultures. A Hogon is a spiritual leader in a Dogon village who play an important role in Dogon religion . The Dogon are an ethnic group in Mali, with some unusual mythology and cultural practices. On average, a village contains around 44 houses organized around the 'ginna', or head man's house. 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. 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). The Yana Gulay mask's purpose is to impersonate a Fulani woman, and is made from cotton cloth and cowl shells. 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. At this time, new masks are carved and dedicated to the ancestors. Masked Dancers of West Africa: The Dogon. Nearby is a cave where music instruments are stored. Domestic Unit. 32, No. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. [18] Griaule had lived amongst the Dogon people for fifteen years before this meeting with Ogotemmeli took place. 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). The Dogon are primarily agriculturalists and cultivate millet, sorghum and rice, as well as onions, tobacco, peanuts, and some other vegetables. ); 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. 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. Marriages are endogamous in that the people are limited to marry only persons within their clan and within their caste.[29]. The Hogon is the spiritual and political leader of the village. Formally, wives join their husband's household only after the birth of their first child. This theme was fundamental to the Dogon religion. Both sexes market, fish, and gather wild foods. [8][9][10], Over time, the Dogon moved north along the escarpment, arriving in the Sanga region in the 15th century. [13] As the growth of cities increased, the demand for slaves across the region of West Africa also increased. 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). Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? Each isolated village or district (canton) in the region has a headman or chief (hogon) who has both religious and judicial responsibilities. This chief head is the oldest living son of the ancestor of the local branch of the family. An enlarged family can count up to a hundred persons and is called guinna. The population numbers between 400,000 and 800,000. van Beek (text) (2001). Dogon CultureProfane and Arcane . Griaule describes it in this passage: Most of the conversations with Ogotemmli had indeed turned largely on twins and on the need for duality and the doubling of individual lives. The leather-workers engage in significant trade with other ethnic groups and accumulate wealth. Social stratification among the Dogon is similar in many respects to that found in other societies in West Africa. Encyclopedia of World Cultures. During the 1890s, a French army was sent into the region for the purpose of establishing colonies. The Dogon are primarily agriculturists, their principal crops being millet, sorghum, rice, onions, beans, tobacco, and sorrel. One relates to their coming from Mande, located to the southwest of the Bandiagara escarpment near Bamako. 23 Feb. 2023 . Erosion of the sandstone has left a number of remarkable features, such as caves, rock shelters, and dunes. 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. Although the importance of the tumo is gradually decreasing, age remains a key status factor. Domestic slavery existed before colonization but is now forbidden by law. 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. The principal domestic animals are sheep, goats, donkeys, dogs, chickens, guinea fowls, ducks, some cattle, a few horses, and cats. 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. Then the Dogon who has entered the contact repeats the ritual, asking the resident how his or her whole family is. While there is not a great deal of accommodation near the Cliff of Bandiagara (Dogon County), there is some in nearby towns. 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. These caste groups live apart from the general population. On the other hand, private property goes first to the eldest son (who must provide for his siblings), then the younger brother. However, even in polygynous marriages, it is rare for a man to have more than two wives. The danyim is held a couple of months later. 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. Medicine. The escarpment, because of its geology, provided a natural stronghold for several societies. The human story begins in Africa. Social Organization. Each caste is endogamous, and members do not take part in any of the common religious cults. After being chosen, a hogon must pass through several months without washing or shaving. 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". Bandiagara was once densely forested and species of plants found here grow nowhere else. Paris: Institut d'Ethnologie. This problem has been solved! He is elected from among the oldest men of the dominant lineage of the village. WebThe Dogon religion is the traditional African beliefs of the Dogon of Mali. Wood, covered with sacrifical materials, Seated Couple, Dogon, Mali. 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. 5 (December 1991), pp. The & Hollyman, Stephenie (photographs) & Walter E.A. Similarly each village may have their own way of performing the dama rituals. 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.) Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. [11] They also believe in ancestral spirits such as the Serpent Ancestor Lebe, and the "Water Spirits" Nommo. This chief head is the oldest living son of the ancestor of the local branch of the family. I am sure you are familiar with his legend which states that he was born in a manger surrounded by shepherds, about Petra Historic World Heritage Site Blasted By Flash Floods, about The Classical Gardens of Suzhou: A Sight to Behold, about Denizens of South Africas Cradle of Humankind: The First Walking Apes, about The Unfinished Timurid Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, about The Magnificent Citadel of Erbil - A True Archaeological Sandwich, about Kunta Kinteh - The African Island at the Heart of the Slave Trade. Highest in the order of supernatural beings is Amma, the supreme creator god, the master of life and death, a benevolent albeit impersonal being who prevails over all, sees all, and knows all. The orbit cycle takes 50 years. Dogon has been frequently referred to as a single language. Another minority practices Christianity. The Dogon languages show few remnants of a unique noun class system, an example of which is that human nouns take a distinct plural suffix. [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? 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. They farm, as well as hunt occasionally, and many Dogon continue to practice an indigenous polytheistic African religion. Amsterdam: Time-Life Books B.V. After initiation, he wears a red cap, and a pearl bracelet. There is no indigenous political integration above the local (village) or district level. 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. [4], The hogon is central to a wide range of fertility and marriage rituals, which are closely related to Dogon origin myths. Paulme, Denise (1940). Dogon damas include the use of many masks, which they wore by securing them in their teeth, and statuettes. Public opinion is a great regulator of social behavior in Dogon society, not so much for its threats of punishment through shame, but by its withdrawal of satisfaction and love from its erring members. The district headman is also head of his lineage and occupies the "great house" (ginna) of that kin group. Dogon art revolves around religious values, ideals, and freedoms (Laude, 19). Identification. Dogon insecurity in the face of these historical pressures caused them to locate their villages in defensible positions along the walls of the escarpment. In addition, men tend the livestock, hunt, and clear and fertilize the fields, whereas women collaborate in sowing, weeding, and harvesting the grain and in raising seasonal crops such as onions. The village of Songho has a circumcision cave ornamented with red and white rock paintings of animals and plants. African religions: Ritual and religious specialists. 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. Since the late 20th century, the Dogon have developed peaceful trading relationships with other societies and have thereby increased variety in their diets. In the shadowy world of ancient warfare, one weapon stood out as a true marvel: Greek fire. The answer is sewa, which means that everything is fine. Minor regional dialectal differences exist. The Dogon are a wonderful and unique culture. They make music on a special instrument that is made of a rod of wood and calabashes that makes the sound of a rattle. Dogon art consists primarily of sculptures. Kinship Terminology. The concept of death and rebirth is also contained within Dogon mythology. WebThey have been identified with the hogon, the chief peacekeeper and supreme religious and political figure in Dogon society. Such jihads caused the Dogon to abandon their original villages and moved up to the cliffs of Bandiagara for better defense and to escape persecutionoften building their dwellings in little nooks and crannies.[15][17]. Ceremonies. Also effective as means of inducing conformity are ridicule and threats of supernatural sanction. After initiation, the Hogon wears a red fez. [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. Circumcision is believed to eliminate the superfluous one. He wears white clothes and nobody is allowed to touch him. Wood and metal and more. ', 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". 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. Caste boys do not get circumcised.[31]. According to Shawn R. Davis, this particular ritual incorporates the elements of the yingim and the danyim. 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. 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. Fruit trees are valued possessions, and although they may be sold, the previous owner reserves the ownership of the field in which they are planted for his own use. The term "Punjabi" signifies both an inhabitant of the Punjab and a speaker of the predominant Language, Wolof 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. [5], The hogon may conduct rituals in the Sanctuaire de Binou, a special building the door of which is blocked with rocks. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. 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Yasawi is a spiritual leader, and members do not get circumcised. [ ]. Villages in defensible positions along the walls of the ancestor of the escarpment, because of its geology, a! Ghost Ship, What is a cave where music instruments are hogon within the dogon culture many to. Ethnonyms: 'kKxou and related words ; Mizo ( same as Lushai ),,... With her only the youngest childthe remaining children stay with the husband 's family principal hogon within the dogon culture millet... And statuettes the spiritual and political leader of the local branch of the sandstone has left a number of features!