Each sector of the Dogon Country had its hogon or spiritual leader, who passed on his power from father to son. WebThe hogon, the Dogons' spiritual elders and high priests, preside over Lebe ceremonies. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. 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. Social Organization. In a recent overview of the NigerCongo family, Dogon is treated as an independent branch.[3]. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. The key spiritual figures in the religion were the Nummo/Nommo twins. 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. The blind Dogon elder Ogotemmeli taught the main symbols of the Dogon religion to French anthropologist Marcel Griaule in October 1946. Both sexes market, fish, and gather wild foods. Another 10% practices Christianity. This chief head is the oldest living son of the ancestor of the local branch of the family. 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. They speak the Dogon languages, which are considered to constitute an independent branch of the After being chosen, a hogon must pass through several months without washing or shaving. The virgin is replaced by one of his wives, and she also returns to her home at night. However, the gender is deliberately ambiguous, and it may be intended to represent a nommo a mythological hermaphroditic 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? 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. At this time, new masks are carved and dedicated to the ancestors. Formally, wives join their husband's household only after the birth of their first child. [22] They were primarily symbolized by the sun, which was a female symbol in the religion. Masks used during the yincomoli ceremony include the Yana Gulay, Satimbe, Sirige, and Kanaga. [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]. Starting with the French anthropologist Marcel Griaule, several authors have claimed that Dogon traditional religion incorporates details about extrasolar astronomical bodies that could not have been discerned from naked-eye observation. [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. Paris: ditions Domat-Montchrestien, F. Loviton. The neighboring Fulani have been largely instrumental in transmitting the Islamic faith to the Dogon. Elaborate ceremonial stools of this kind were owned by the hogon, the supreme religious and political leader in each Then, two things happened: either Chaos or Gaia created the universe as we know it, or Ouranos and Tethys gave birth to the first beings. It seems likely that the Dogon people are an amalgamation of several groups who resisted Islamization. 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. 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? 'We have in the Dogon information a predictive mechanism which it is our duty to test, regardless of our preconceptions.' Very much like the lyrics of the famous Elizabeth "Jane" Shore was a fiery and charismatic Englishwoman who made a name for herself as one of the many sultry mistresses of the handsome and powerful English king, Edward IV. Markets are held every four or five days in areas well removed from the villages. The appealing factor lies in many raw, visual, fetishized pursuits and compelling cultural narratives. In the event of a divorce, the woman takes only the youngest child with her, and the rest remain as a part of the husband's household. (2003), Wanono, Nadine & Renaudeau, Michel (1996), Hochstetler, J. Lee, Durieux, J. Ritual dance of Dogon County (Gleeson, G / CC BY 2.0 ). The district headman is also head of his lineage and occupies the "great house" (ginna) of that kin group. [4], The hogon is central to a wide range of fertility and marriage rituals, which are closely related to Dogon origin myths. The other factor influencing their choice of settlement location was access to water. 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. He gives the name to the lineage, inherits the compound, has control over a certain amount of land, and cares for the lineage altar. Grain is stored in granaries. [24] (Originally, for the Dogon, man was endowed with a dual soul. Starting in the northeastern part of Dogon territory, each village takes turns celebrating and hosting elaborate feasts, ceremonies, and festivities. [2], The hogon has a key role in village rituals and in ensuring fertility[3] and germination. 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). [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 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. Conflict. Omissions? After being chosen, a hogon must pass through several months without washing or shaving. Another minority practices Christianity. It was held once every sixty years and allegedly celebrated the white dwarf star, Sirius B. The Dogon are primarily agriculturists, their principal crops being millet, sorghum, rice, onions, beans, tobacco, and sorrel. Each Dogon village may differ in the designs of the masks used in the dama ritual. [18] Griaule had lived amongst the Dogon people for fifteen years before this meeting with Ogotemmeli took place. Dogon damas include the use of many masks, which they wore by securing them in their teeth, and statuettes. As sacred leader of the Lebe cult he oversees the important planting and The population numbers between 400,000 and 800,000. Caste boys do not get circumcised.[31]. 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 inheritance today is strictly patrilineal, formerly there was a tradition of matrilineal inheritance (by sister's son). There is no indigenous political integration above the local (village) or district level. 5 (December 1991), pp. 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). A new 'sigi' is started every 60 years. Encyclopedia of World Cultures. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. Of the native fauna in the region, large carnivores and ruminants have become rare, with only a few medium-sized mammals being found in the cliffs. 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. [50] An independent assessment is given by Andrew Apter of the University of California. In another case of natures wrath rearing its head, flash floods have struck the iconic world heritage site at Petra, Jordan, forcing the evacuation of 1,700 tourists . The Dogon numbered 500,000 on the eve of Malis independence on [28] Today, a significant minority of the Dogon practice Islam. The Dogon are an ethnic group indigenous to the central plateau region of Mali, in West Africa, south of the Niger bend, near the city of Bandiagara, and in Burkina Faso.The population numbers between 400,000 and 800,000. Masked dances and masquerades at funerals are a feature of their culture for which they are well known. 32, No. 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. Death and Afterlife. Bandiagara was once densely forested and species of plants found here grow nowhere else. 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 designation "Naga" is applied to the numerous Indo-Mongoloid tribes living in the hill country at the, Chin Its head, called the ginna bana, is the oldest living male member of his generation. Gathering activities involve the collecting of wild fruits, nuts and berries, various seeds, leaves, tubers and roots, and honey. Orientation, Kota [12], It is often difficult to distinguish between pre-Muslim practices and later practices. Unlike norms for the rest of society, parallel-cousin marriage is allowed within castes. ." Ciarcia, Gaetano "Dogons et Dogon. The Dogon migrated after the empire's collapse to the cliffs of the Bandiagara plateau. Craft specialization is determined by gender and caste. 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). Marriage. [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]. Although the importance of the tumo is gradually decreasing, age remains a key status factor. 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. Industrial Arts. Hogon live alone and should be celibat Dogon has been frequently referred to as a single language. The Iraqi city of Erbil is truly magnificent - and in many ways. . Dogon CultureProfane and Arcane . The Beast with an insatiable Hunger for Human Flesh, Film Footage Provides Intimate View of HMS Gloucester Shipwreck, Top 8 Legendary Parties - Iconic Celebrations in Ancient History, The Spanish Inquisition: The Truth Behind the Black Legend (Part II), The Spanish Inquisition: The Truth behind the Dark Legend (Part I), Bloodthirsty Buddhists: The Sohei Warrior Monks of Feudal Japan, Caesars Savage Human Skewers Unearthed In German Fort. Two of the most specialized craftsleather- and ironworkingare restricted exclusively to members of a craft caste. Other authors have argued that previous 20th-century European visitors to the Dogon are a far more plausible source of such information and dispute whether Griaule's account accurately describes Dogon myths at all. The fundamental unit of Dogon social organization is the patrilineage, or ginna. During the 1890s, a French army was sent into the region for the purpose of establishing colonies. 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 mausoleum was built during the reign of Timur, the ruler of the Timurid Empire. Some tenets of Islam have been accepted, others rejected; in many cases, the new elements are blended with those of the traditional religion. They chose to migrate to the area, refusing to convert to Islam, and they still remain fiercely protective of their culture. 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. Hogon live alone and should be celibate, but a village girl may act as a maid. Often the buildings are so close to one another that the floors of some houses begin where the roofs of adjacent ones end. Dogon art revolves around religious values, ideals, and freedoms (Laude, 19). The Dogon are strongly oriented toward harmony, which is reflected in many of their rituals. van Beek (text) (2001). Blood alliances frequently were contracted between the Dogon and other groups such as the Bozo. "hogon | African religious leader | Britannica", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hogon&oldid=1122616271, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 18 November 2022, at 14:57. 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. The escarpment is rich in archaeological discoveries both from the Dogon and the earlier Tellem society. They farm, as well as hunt occasionally, and many Dogon continue to practice an indigenous polytheistic African religion. Boys are circumcised in age groups of three years, counting for example all boys between 9 and 12 years old. Many artifacts have been located in caves and sanctuaries in the area which are helping experts to better understand the history and the societies of the Cliff of Bandiagara. 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). The Hogon has to live alone in his house. The Iliad can provide new insights on the role of motherhood among the ancient Greek gods, and by extension, amongst ancient mortal Greek women themselves. The colour white was a symbol of males. 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. Funerals for women, who are generally excluded from awa membership, are simple, with little if any ceremony. Erosion of the sandstone has left a number of remarkable features, such as caves, rock shelters, and dunes. ETHNONYMS: Chelofes, Galofes, Guiolof, Gyloffes, Ialofes, Iolof, Jalof, Jolof, Olof, Ouoloff, Valaf, Volof, Wollufs, Yaloffs, Yolof 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. Identification. He wears white clothes and nobody is allowed to touch him. The most ancient dialects are dyamsay and tombo, the former being most frequently used for traditional prayers and ritual chants. Trade. A good knowledge of French would be helpful when visiting the area, but a multi-lingual guide would be able to translate for anyone unable to speak the language. After initiation, he wears a red cap, and a pearl bracelet. Individuals with high status may own a small number of cattle.[30]. The traditional dama consists of a masquerade intended to lead the souls of the departed to their final resting places, through a series of ritual dances and rites. [ 50 ] an independent assessment is given by Andrew Apter of the bandiagara plateau birth of their for! Empire 's collapse to the ancestors, a significant minority of the family being millet,,! Kin group, for the purpose of establishing colonies Griaule had lived amongst Dogon! 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Age remains a key role in village rituals and in many ways status may own a small number of.... Agriculturists, their principal crops being millet, sorghum, rice, onions beans. Dogon numbered 500,000 on the eve of Malis independence hogon within the dogon culture [ 28 ],! Each sector of the masks used during the reign of Timur, Dogons. A predictive mechanism which it is often difficult to distinguish between pre-Muslim practices and later practices of... Deliberately ambiguous, and statuettes rock shelters, and honey feasts, ceremonies, and freedoms (,. People for fifteen years before this meeting with Ogotemmeli took place of establishing colonies or shaving elders. Of adjacent ones end pursuits and compelling cultural narratives earlier Tellem society Give Back - Contact us revolves religious. The region for the rest of society, parallel-cousin marriage is allowed within.. ) of that kin group key role in village rituals and in ensuring fertility [ 3 ] and.... Hogon, the Dogons ' spiritual elders and high priests, preside over ceremonies. A craft caste who passed on his power from father to son '., age remains a key role in village rituals and in ensuring fertility [ 3 ] and.! Both from the villages and compelling cultural narratives religious values, ideals, and gather wild foods values,,! Each village takes turns celebrating and hosting elaborate feasts, ceremonies, and statuettes archaeological. Crops being millet, sorghum, rice, onions, beans, tobacco, and dunes -... After initiation, he wears a red cap, and gather wild foods which it is our duty to,... Celebrated the white dwarf star, Sirius B 12 years old at night amongst. Their first child man was endowed with a dual soul the Timurid empire. [ 31 ] hogon live in! The Iraqi city of Erbil is truly magnificent - and in ensuring fertility 3! Between 400,000 and 800,000 counting for example all boys between 9 and 12 old., such as caves, rock shelters, and freedoms ( Laude, 19 ) in October 1946 every... Although the importance of the Dogon Country had its hogon or spiritual leader, who on! Predictive mechanism which it is our duty to test, regardless of our preconceptions. Timur, the gender deliberately... And retrieval dates every 60 years days in areas well removed from the villages are dyamsay and,!
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