About 1,500 ethnic Dogon in seven villages in southern Mali speak the Bangime language, which is unrelated to the other Dogon languages and presumed by linguists to be an ancient, pre-Dogon language isolate, although a minority of linguists (most notably Roger Blench) hypothesise that it may be related to Proto-Nilo-Saharan.[38]. Blood alliances frequently were contracted between the Dogon and other groups such as the Bozo. Another 10% practices Christianity. 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). 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. Each sector of the Dogon Country had its hogon or spiritual leader, who passed on his power from father to son. [22] They were primarily symbolized by the sun, which was a female symbol in the religion. & E.I.K. Durieux-Boon (2004). Biographies - Hogon | African Religious Leader | Britannica 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. 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. Encyclopedia of World Cultures. The birth of human twins was celebrated in the Dogon culture in Griaule's day because it recalled the "fabulous past, when all beings came into existence in twos, symbols of the balance between humans and the divine". The Dogon also believe in various malevolent and benevolent spirits who populate the bush, trees, and uninhabited places. 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. The neighboring Fulani have been largely instrumental in transmitting the Islamic faith to the Dogon. Dogon lineage is patrilineal, meaning 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. Caste boys do not get circumcised.[31]. Each Dogon village, or enlarged family, is headed by one male elder. 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. WebThe hogon, the Dogons' spiritual elders and high priests, preside over Lebe ceremonies. 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 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. The Dogon are strongly oriented toward harmony, which is reflected in many of their rituals. Similarly each village may have their own way of performing the dama rituals. They purchase sugar, salt, European merchandise, and many animal products, such as milk, butter, and dried fish. Corrections? The virgin is replaced by one of his wives, and she also returns to her home at night. Each isolated village or district (canton) in the region has a headman or chief (hogon) who has both religious and judicial responsibilities. 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. Dogon art revolves around religious values, ideals, and freedoms (Laude, 19). The Les dogon. From the mythical stroy of creation from the Dogon culture, hogon is seen as the spiritual leader of the Dogon social culture. The Kanaga masqueraders, at one point, dance and sit next to the bundkamba, which represents the deceased. Palau Marti, Montserrat (1957). There are at least five distinct groups of dialects. The Chilling Mystery of the Octavius Ghost Ship, What is a Wendigo? There also exists a supreme hogon for the entire region who resides at Arou (Aru) and is elected by members of the Arou tribe. [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. and are commonly hidden from the public eye within the houses of families, sanctuaries, or kept with the Hogon (Laude, 20). Retours au 'pays du reel'", Genevive Calame-Griaule: "On the Dogon Restudied". The Yana Gulay mask's purpose is to impersonate a Fulani woman, and is made from cotton cloth and cowl shells. "The Nummo foresaw that the original rule of twin births was bound to disappear, and that errors might result comparable to those of the jackal, whose birth was single. Elaborate ceremonial stools of this kind were owned by the hogon, the supreme religious and political leader in each 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. In the Dogon language, the sun's name (nay) had the same root as "mother" (na) and "cow" (n). Or, were the Romans protecting something even more valuable than silver? The orbit cycle takes 50 years. The Dogon believe the sacred snake Lb comes during the night to clean him and to transfer wisdom. The answer is sewa, which means that everything is fine. They chose to migrate to the area, refusing to convert to Islam, and they still remain fiercely protective of their culture. Divorce is not uncommon; it occurs most often in polygynous households. After being chosen, a hogon must pass through several months without washing or shaving. Other specialists are the healers or herbalists (dyodyonune ), who treat the sick, and sorcerers (dyonune ), who cast spells. [20] The religion embraced many aspects of nature which are found in other traditional African religions. It is likely that the Dogon of today are descendants of several groups of diverse origin who migrated to escape Islamization. Encyclopedia.com. According to Dogon belief, they (hogon) are the "oldest direct descendant of the original ancestor." Between 2010-2012 I worked in the Limerick City Archives. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/dogon. Unless arrangements are made to the contrary, a man's property is inherited by his eldest son, who is expected to provide support for his brothers or assure them of an equal share of the inheritance. A hogon is a religious figure as well as a temporal authority; the hogon may be hereditary or may be chosen from among the village elderscustom varies from place to place. Question: Discuss why you would or would not like to be selected as the Hogan within the Dogon culture. The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is a monument in Turkestan, a city in southern Kazakhstan. [4], The hogon is central to a wide range of fertility and marriage rituals, which are closely related to Dogon origin myths. The degree of complexity of the ceremonies depends upon the age and status of the deceased male. Orientation Houses are built extremely close together, many times sharing walls and floors. 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. Conflict. He is responsible for the creation of three other subordinate beings, the worship of which is the basis of several totemic cults. Dogon funeral rituals come in two parts. 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". On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The Iraqi city of Erbil is truly magnificent - and in many ways. These caste groups live apart from the general population. Dogon CultureProfane and Arcane . Location. The escarpment, because of its geology, provided a natural stronghold for several societies. The principal domestic animals are sheep, goats, donkeys, dogs, chickens, guinea fowls, ducks, some cattle, a few horses, and cats. 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. 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 smiths have important ritual powers and are characteristically poor. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Dogon door with stylized figures (Wegmann, M/ CC BY 3.0 ). WebThe social and cultural traditions of the Dogon are among the best preserved of sub-saharan Africa, despite certain important irreversible socio-economic mutations. Although inheritance today is strictly patrilineal, formerly there was a tradition of matrilineal inheritance (by sister's son). The wet season begins in June and continues through October, with cool and hot dry seasons the remainder of the year. At this time, new masks are carved and dedicated to the ancestors. The idea has entered the New Age and ancient astronaut literature as evidence that extraterrestrial aliens visited Mali in the distant past. Unlike norms for the rest of society, parallel-cousin marriage is allowed within castes. In the past the Dogon were considered a warlike people; they often fought with other Dogon districts as well as with their non-Dogon neighbors such as the Fulani. [41] They reported that the Dogon believe that the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius (Sigi Tolo or "star of the Sigui"[42]), has two companion stars, P Tolo (the Digitaria star), and mm ya tolo, (the female Sorghum star), respectively the first and second companions of Sirius A. The importance of secrecy is due to the symbolic meaning behind the pieces and the process by which they are made. African religions: Ritual and religious specialists. WebThe past century has seen significant changes in the social organization, material culture and beliefs of the Dogon, partly because Dogon country is one of Mali's major tourist attractions. Minor regional dialectal differences exist. Political Organization. She returns to her home at night. [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. (February 23, 2023). Inheritance. Dogon art consists primarily of sculptures. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. This marks the end of their youth, and they are initiated. In traditional Dogon society, land was transmitted within the family group (ginna, or lineage), and was considered inalienable property. When Digitaria is closest to Sirius, that star brightens: when it is farthest from Sirius, it gives off a twinkling effect that suggests to the observer several stars. ); from Mali, Figure of a kneeling woman; circa 1500; wood; height: 35.2cm (1378 in. [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. Organisation sociale des dogon (Soudan Franais). [24] (Originally, for the Dogon, man was endowed with a dual soul. "The jackal was alone from birth," said Ogotemmli, "and because of this he did more things than can be told. 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. Women may leave their husbands early in their marriage, before the birth of their first child. The designation "Naga" is applied to the numerous Indo-Mongoloid tribes living in the hill country at the, Chin Beierle, John "Dogon You'll get a detailed solution from a subject matter expert that helps you learn core concepts. Current Anthropology, Vol. 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 are a group of about 250,000 people who live primarily in the districts of Bandiagara and Douentza in the western African nation of Mali. The Mali landscape around Dogon (Spooner, J / CC BY 2.0 ). They were one of the last people in West Africa to lose their independence and come under French rule.[18]. In referring to relatives, linguistic usage distinguishes between the forms of address and the specific relationship. 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