Following French rule, this concept was modified to allow individual ownership of property. The principal ceremonies center around agriculture and death. The orbit cycle takes 50 years. ", "Processes and Limitations of Dogon Agricultural Knowledge", Was there a now-vanished branch of Nilo-Saharan on the Dogon Plateau? Translation of 5,500-Year-Old Babel Text from China Reveals Oldest Known Map of Inner Solar System, The Gristhorpe Man: A Bronze Age Skeleton with a Story to Tell, 3: The Perfect Number - Trinity Symbolism in World Religious Traditions, Evidence that Noahs Ark Landed on a Mountain 17 Miles South of Ararat, The origins of human beings according to ancient Sumerian texts, The Truth Behind the Christ Myth: Ancient Origins of the Often Used Legend Part I, Library in Stone: The Ica Stones of Professor Cabrera Part I, Two Sides to Every Story: The North American Martyrs Shrines and Indigenous/ Roman Catholic Relations, The Origins of the Faeries: Encoded in our Cultures Part I, Curse of the Buried Pearl: The Hunt for Ancient Treasures Part I, The Enigma of the Shugborough Inscription, The Dogons Extraordinary Knowledge of the Cosmos and the Cult of Nommo, Those Who Once Reigned: Experts Name Famous and Forgotten Ancient Gods, The Legend of How Mansa Abu Bakr II of Mali Gave up the Throne to Explore the Atlantic Ocean, https://www.africabib.org/rec.php?RID=084681896, https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/africa/article/dogon-cultureprofane-and-arcane/47CD44EC412C57D64B141529BD52F19B, https://journals.openedition.org/articulo/417, Petra Historic World Heritage Site Blasted By Flash Floods, The Classical Gardens of Suzhou: A Sight to Behold, Denizens of South Africas Cradle of Humankind: The First Walking Apes, The Unfinished Timurid Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, The Magnificent Citadel of Erbil - A True Archaeological Sandwich, Kunta Kinteh - The African Island at the Heart of the Slave Trade. 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. Griaule encouraged the construction of a dam near Sangha and persuaded the Dogon to cultivate onions. Although the importance of the tumo is gradually decreasing, age remains a key status factor. Orientation 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. Expert Answer Introduction. All initiated Dogon men participate in Awa, with the exception of some caste members. Updates? Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. Biographies - Hogon | African Religious Leader | Britannica In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. 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. Heaven on Earth? Each caste is endogamous, and members do not take part in any of the common religious cults. The other factor influencing their choice of settlement location was access to water. 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. Orientation ETHNONYMS: Cohatur, Kohatur, Kotar, Koter, Kothur Explanation. His saliva is the source of the life-giving humidity, and his foot must not touch the earth directly or the ground will dry up. How the Dogon Preserved Their Unique Culture Along The Cliff In a recent overview of the NigerCongo family, Dogon is treated as an independent branch.[3]. [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 Dogon numbered 500,000 on the eve of Malis independence on The importance of secrecy is due to the symbolic meaning behind the pieces and the process by which they are made. Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! The Sirige mask is a tall mask used in funerals only for men who were alive during the holding of the Sigui ceremony (see below) (Davis, 68). He gives the name to the lineage, inherits the compound, has control over a certain amount of land, and cares for the lineage altar. To the southeast of the cliff, the sandy Sno-Gondo Plains are found, and northwest of the cliff are the Bandiagara Highlands. 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). 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 escarpment is rich in archaeological discoveries both from the Dogon and the earlier Tellem society. A new 'sigi' is started every 60 years. Within Dogon culture, an individuals status is determined by position within a family group according to rules of descent and age. The cliffs and rocky terrain provided excellent protection from slave Another 10% practices Christianity. The Dogon are best identified for their religious traditions, the mask dances, wooden WebDiscuss why you would or would not like to be selected as the Hogan within the Dogon culture. "Mythes et organisation sociale au Soudan franais". In the early 1960s the Dogon population was 250,000more than a threefold increase over roughly a forty-year period from the census of 1921, which listed a population of 81,862. It was held once every sixty years and allegedly celebrated the white dwarf star, Sirius B. Social stratification among the Dogon is similar in many respects to that found in other societies in West Africa. During this time, new masks are carved and dedicated to their ancestors. Beierle, John "Dogon The Awa is a masked dance society that holds ritual and social importance. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France. Ceremonies. Beierle, John "Dogon Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. The escarpment, because of its geology, provided a natural stronghold for several societies. Ogotemmli classified the Nummo as hermaphrodites. WebStudy with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Sculpture Tellem, Mali. Palau Marti, Montserrat (1957). Davis, Shawn R. Dogon Funerals in African Art; Summer 2002, Vol. [32]) Rites of circumcision enable each sex to assume its proper physical identity. 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 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. Elaborate ceremonial stools of this kind were owned by the hogon, the supreme religious and political leader in each The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is a monument in Turkestan, a city in southern Kazakhstan. Large mock battles are performed in order to help chase the spirit, known as the nyama, from the deceased's body and village, and towards the path to the afterlife (Davis, 68). While the people keep chickens or herds of sheep and goats in Dogon villages, animal husbandry holds little economic value. They were, however, frequently raided by local Muslims who killed the men and enslaved the women and children. Two of the most specialized craftsleather- and ironworkingare restricted exclusively to members of a craft caste. There are two major events at which the Awa perform: the 'sigi' ritual and 'dama' funeral rituals.[35]. The horse, symbolizing power and wealth, is Another 10% practices Christianity. "[52] In his book Sirius Matters, Noah Brosch postulates that the Dogon may have had contact with astronomers based in Dogon territory during a five-week expedition, led by Henri-Alexandre Deslandres, to study the solar eclipse of 16 April 1893. Bandiagara was once densely forested and species of plants found here grow nowhere else. Wood, covered with sacrifical materials, Seated Couple, Dogon, Mali. 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. The first wife, or ya biru, holds a higher position in the family relative to any wives from later marriages. 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. [23] They were symbolized by the colour red, a female symbol. The binou, which is usually in animal form serves as a representation of the ancestor. The Yana Gulay mask's purpose is to impersonate a Fulani woman, and is made from cotton cloth and cowl shells. The clitoris is considered male, while the foreskin is considered female. ETHNONYM: Panjabi 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. Division of Labor. Social Control. The household is usually an extended family consisting of both nuclear and polygynous units. Identification. This leads linguists to conclude that Dogon is likely to have diverged from NigerCongo very early.[when?] Those who follow this spiritual path believe in one Supreme Creator, Amma (or Ama [9] ), [10] the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent Creator. In a polygynous marriage, the wives reside in separate houses within the husband's compound. 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." Formally, wives join their husband's household only after the birth of their first child. The cliff is not far from the city of Bandiagara in western Mali. ); from Mali, Figure of a kneeling woman; circa 1500; wood; height: 35.2cm (1378 in. Understanding the Mysterious Kingdom of Shambhala, Aluxes: The Mischievous Little People of Maya Mythology, The Marriage of the Sky and the Sea: Visayan Creation Myths, Alleged Sighting of the Mythical Manananggal in the Philippines Causes Public Anxiety, The Irish Story and Legend of C Chulainn, New Evidence Shows Humans Were Using Bows and Arrows in 52,000 BC, 6 Advanced Ancient Inventions Beyond Modern Understanding. 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. [13] As the growth of cities increased, the demand for slaves across the region of West Africa also increased. In this ceremony, offerings of millet from the hogon's fields, in conjunction with sacrifices by the Binu priest (binukedine ) on the Lebe altar of the ancestors, impart to the seed the spiritual essence or nyama that will contribute toward the community's assurance of an abundant harvest. Hogon live alone and should be celibate, but a village girl may act as a maid. African art and culture had been a driving inspiration to European modern artists like Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, and Amedeo Modigliani, among others. Although Temple fails to prove its antiquity, the evidence for the recent acquisition of the information is still entirely circumstantial. 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). Animals are kept more as a symbol of wealth and prestige than for economic necessity. "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. After being chosen, a hogon must pass through several months without washing or shaving. Influence from Tellem art is evident in Dogon art because of its rectilinear designs (Laude, 24). [37] Women have no right to learn Sigui So. Universit de Paris, Travaux et Mmoires de l'Institut d'Ethnologie, 33. Conflict. Encyclopedia of World Cultures. Dogon art revolves around religious values, ideals, and freedoms (Laude, 19). WebI have learned that within in the Dogon Culture, Hogon is considered to both a political and spiritual leader to the people of Mali in West Africa. [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 heavenly Powers themselves were dual, and in their Earthly manifestations they constantly intervened in pairs[28]. 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. [3], The Dogon are best known for their religious traditions, their mask dances, wooden sculpture, and their architecture. 150,000-Year-Old Pipes Baffle Scientists in China: Out of Place in Time? It is generally accepted that the Dogon language belongs to the NigerCongo language family, though the evidence is weak. 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