The importance of secrecy is due to the symbolic meaning behind the pieces and the process by which they are made. 35 Issue 2. Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! "[46], More recently, doubts have been raised about the validity of Griaule and Dieterlen's work. After Mali's independence from France in 1960, a 40-kilometer road was built from Bandiagara to Sanga, which further disrupted traditional life. ." The human story begins in Africa. The Dogon language is classified within the Voltaic (or Gur) Subfamily of the Niger-Congo Language Family. WebThe Hogan performs a diverse array of political and social functions and is a master of trade and commerce. There are over 200 Dogon villages across the escarpment and each village has a democratically elected headman (Hogon), who is also their spiritual leader. 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. Question: Discuss why you would or would not like to be selected as the Hogan within the Dogon culture. 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). Kado), a Fulbe word meaning "stranger" or "pagan.". Palau Marti, Montserrat (1957). [28] Today, a significant minority of the Dogon practice Islam. It is advisable to hire a guide with a car as the area is remote. Another minority practices Christianity. [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). [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. It is obvious to any astronomer that some of the brightest objects in the night sky are the planets. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Explanation. 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 series of dances, which constitute a good part of the Sigi, lasts for seven years; one village after another takes its turn to entertain its neighbors with feasting, drinking, and displays of wealth. The answer is sewa, which means that everything is fine. & Hollyman, Stephenie (photographs) & Walter E.A. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. 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. ', 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". The cliffs and rocky terrain provided excellent protection from slave [24] (Originally, for the Dogon, man was endowed with a dual soul. Both sexes market, fish, and gather wild foods. WebThe Hogon is the spiritual and political leader of the village. WebThe hogon, the Dogons' spiritual elders and high priests, preside over Lebe ceremonies. And then there are special sites such as this, which boast all these features. 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 "Sigi so" was used to tell the story of creation of the universe, of human life, and the advent of death on the Earth, during both funeral ceremonies and the rites of the "end of mourning" ("dama"). One of its most distinctive features is the hierarchical series of occupational "castes" or status groups consisting of iron- and leatherworkers, griots (lineage genealogists), musicians, poets, and sorcerers. Ciarcia, Gaetano "Dogons et Dogon. 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). It was first inhabited by the Tellem, Stone Age hunters, at least 10,000 years ago. The district headman is also head of his lineage and occupies the "great house" (ginna) of that kin group. Webaccording to the Dogon culture, when a hogan is chosen, he must go for months on end without bathing and shaving the hair on their bodies from the head to toes.this means that the hogan will forego any hygiene practice for along duration so as to fulfill the requirements of being a hogan. The Dogon live in compact, occasionally walled villages built up the sides of the escarpment. "[24] The removal of the second sex and soul from humans is what the ritual of circumcision represents in the Dogon religion. Once a boy is circumcised, he transitions into young adulthood and moves out of his father's house. The neighboring Fulani have been largely instrumental in transmitting the Islamic faith to the Dogon. 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 principal domestic animals are sheep, goats, donkeys, dogs, chickens, guinea fowls, ducks, some cattle, a few horses, and cats. [citation needed][why?] This chief head is the oldest living son of the ancestor of the local branch of the family. It was held once every sixty years and allegedly celebrated the white dwarf star, Sirius B. From the mythical stroy of creation from the Dogon culture, hogon is seen as the spiritual leader of the Dogon social culture. 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. They purchase sugar, salt, European merchandise, and many animal products, such as milk, butter, and dried fish. 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). Expert Answer Introduction. Masked Dancers of West Africa: The Dogon. Articulo-Journal of Urban Research, (4), Available at: https://journals.openedition.org/articulo/417, My name is Edward Whelan and I graduated with a PhD in history in 2008. Industrial Arts. According to this oral tradition, the first Dogon settlement was established in the extreme southwest of the escarpment at Kani-Na. [23] They were symbolized by the colour red, a female symbol. [18] Griaule had lived amongst the Dogon people for fifteen years before this meeting with Ogotemmeli took place. A man may now sell a field allotted to him in the distribution of ginna property, but the sale is always revocable, and the ginna may recover the property upon the death of the seller through the reimbursement of the purchase price to the buyer. These are two story building with separate areas for men and women. In traditional Dogon society, land was transmitted within the family group (ginna, or lineage), and was considered inalienable property. [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. This enigmatic figure is an ancestor figure from the Dogon people of Mali. 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. Themes found throughout Dogon sculpture consist of figures with raised arms, superimposed bearded figures, horsemen, stools with caryatids, women with children, figures covering their faces, women grinding pearl millet, women bearing vessels on their heads, donkeys bearing cups, musicians, dogs, quadruped-shaped troughs or benches, figures bending from the waist, mirror-images, aproned figures, and standing figures (Laude, 4652). 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 The smiths have important ritual powers and are characteristically poor. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. While the castes are correlated to profession, membership is determined by birth. Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? 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. . Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Amsterdam: Time-Life Books B.V. Dogon CultureProfane and Arcane . The fundamental unit of Dogon social organization is the patrilineage, or ginna. Was this German silver mine really defended by two Roman forts and a line of "spike defenses? 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. But Islamic law classified the Dogon and many other ethnicities of the region (Mossi, Gurma, Bobo, Busa and the Yoruba) as being within the non-canon dar al-harb and consequently fair game for slave raids organized by merchants. (February 23, 2023). [6][7] Archaeological and ethnoarchaeological studies in the Dogon region have been especially revealing about the settlement and environmental history, and about social practices and technologies in this area over several thousands of years. [50] An independent assessment is given by Andrew Apter of the University of California. After being chosen, a hogon must pass through several months without washing or shaving. 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). [11] Other oral histories place the origin of the Dogon to the west beyond the river Niger, or tell of the Dogon coming from the east. He wears white clothes and nobody is allowed to touch him. [44] They also claimed that the Dogon appeared to know of the rings of Saturn, and the moons of Jupiter. Today, at least 35% of the Dogon practice Islam. ); from Mali, Figure of a kneeling woman; circa 1500; wood; height: 35.2cm (1378 in. [12] See also [ edit] Pangool Mand creation myth Samay (mythology) Zin (water spirits) Traditional African religion portal Mali portal References [ edit] An enlarged family can count up to a hundred persons and is called guinna. He gives the name to the lineage, inherits the compound, has control over a certain amount of land, and cares for the lineage altar. One example: 'If a Sirius-C is ever discovered and found to be a red dwarf, I will conclude that the Dogon information has been fully validated. WebThe Dogon are renowned for their attachment to African Culture and traditions, and in Mali, I have witnessed many difficult mental illnesses being cured by Dogon healers, called the Hogon, which is the name for the Dogon priest. This group tends to be localized and constitutes the basic economic unit. 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. Each Dogon village, or enlarged family, is headed by one male elder. I have lived nearby and visited Dogon country. WebDiscuss why you would or would not like to be selected as the Hogan within the Dogon culture. 16-19th century. I have written a book and several peer reviewed journal articles. 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]. [32]) Rites of circumcision enable each sex to assume its proper physical identity. After being chosen, a hogon must pass through several months without washing or shaving. Each district had its own recognized war leaders. Those who follow this spiritual path believe in one Supreme Creator, Amma (or Ama [9] ), [10] the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent Creator. Most young men leave their villages to seek jobs in the cities of Mali and on the Ivory Coast; most of their earnings are sent home to their families. 1000-1500 AD, Dogon Sculpture, Mali. Dogon funeral rituals come in two parts. A virgin who has not yet had her period takes care of him, cleans his house, and prepares his meals. Linguistic Affiliation. Funerals for women, who are generally excluded from awa membership, are simple, with little if any ceremony. Or, were the Romans protecting something even more valuable than silver? The danyim is held a couple of months later. The Hogon is the spiritual and political leader of the village. 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. These events are held annually to honor the elders who have died since the last Dama. Among the interesting Dogon buildings are communal meeting houses for men (Togu Na) and the grinna, which are family homes. Beierle, John "Dogon The curvilinear design and the accompanying child suggest a female. ETHNONYMS: Cohatur, Kohatur, Kotar, Koter, Kothur Monogamy is the major form of marriage, although nonsororal polygyny with a limit of two wives is permitted. Top image: Cliff of Bandiagara Source: Public Domain, Bolland, R. (1991). This custom is repeated over and over, throughout a Dogon village, all day. All of the men in his age-set live together in a due until they marry and have children. Due to the expense, the second traditional funeral rituals, or "damas", are becoming very rare. 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. 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. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. The Dogon are a wonderful and unique culture. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. 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). Dogon art revolves around religious values, ideals, and freedoms (Laude, 19). The problem of "twin births" versus "single births", or androgyny versus single-sexed beings, was said to contribute to a disorder at the beginning of time. Members of these castes are physically separate from the rest of the village and live either at the village edge or outside of it entirely. 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. In referring to relatives, linguistic usage distinguishes between the forms of address and the specific relationship. The Hogon has to live alone in his house. ETHNONYMS: Chelofes, Galofes, Guiolof, Gyloffes, Ialofes, Iolof, Jalof, Jolof, Olof, Ouoloff, Valaf, Volof, Wollufs, Yaloffs, Yolof She returns to her home at night. 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. 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". African art and culture had been a driving inspiration to European modern artists like Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, and Amedeo Modigliani, among others. ", "Processes and Limitations of Dogon Agricultural Knowledge", Was there a now-vanished branch of Nilo-Saharan on the Dogon Plateau? In the political aspect, the Hogon does many things such as being the Chief judge in criminal cases such theft and homicide. It has a strict code of etiquette, obligations, interdicts, and a secret language (sigi so). 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. Dogon religion and Dogon philosophy both expressed a haunting sense of the original loss of twin-ness. The blacksmith performs the circumcision. 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. Orientation 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. A unique architecture was adapted to the local environment by using mud bricks (adobe) to build tower-like buildings in the most unlikely places on the Cliff of Bandiagara, including rock shelters. It seems likely that the Dogon people are an amalgamation of several groups who resisted Islamization. All agree, however, that they learned about the star from Griaule. Biographies - Hogon | African Religious Leader | Britannica The wet season begins in June and continues through October, with cool and hot dry seasons the remainder of the year. WebDogon Female Ancestor Sculpture. [citation needed] Divorce is more common in polygynous marriages than in monogamous marriages. Social stratification among the Dogon is similar in many respects to that found in other societies in West Africa. The colour white was a symbol of males. Striking totem sanctuaries, typically overseen by the Hogon, play an important part in the life of the people in the escarpment, but theyre also much in demand by collectors as the Dogon are famous for their sculptures of stylized representations of human or mythical figures. Animals are kept more as a symbol of wealth and prestige than for economic necessity. ); Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City). Dogon society is organized by a patrilineal kinship system. Each village is composed of one main lineage (occasionally, multiple lineages make up a single village) traced through the male line. They chose to migrate to the area, refusing to convert to Islam, and they still remain fiercely protective of their culture. Marriages are endogamous in that the people are limited to marry only persons within their clan and within their caste.[29]. The hogon is always a man. 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. ); 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. Universit de Paris, Travaux et Mmoires de l'Institut d'Ethnologie, 33. Not on view. 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. Thegoal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. This led Mr. Temple to establish the theory that, according to Nommos, extraterrestrial inhabitants of Sirius travelled towards the earth at some point in the distant past, and one crossed to teach the old civilizations (the Egyptians and the Dogons) their [37] Women have no right to learn Sigui So. (2003), Wanono, Nadine & Renaudeau, Michel (1996), Hochstetler, J. Lee, Durieux, J. Starting in the northeastern part of Dogon territory, each village takes turns celebrating and hosting elaborate feasts, ceremonies, and festivities. Dieterlen, G., 1955. 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 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. Their bodies are treated There are at least five distinct groups of dialects. Conflict. The development of tourism in the Dogon Country and the Hombori Mountains (Mali) . Ceremonies. 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. Griaule, Marcel (1938). Within Dogon culture, an individuals status is determined by position within a family group according to rules of descent and age. In 1912 a school was established for them in Sanga, followed by a Christian mission in the 1930s, and later a medical dispensary. 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." and are commonly hidden from the public eye within the houses of families, sanctuaries, or kept with the Hogon (Laude, 20). Inheritance. Man in Peru Caught Out Drinking With an 800-year-old Mummy! 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. Orientation [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 plant and maintain a variety of useful trees such as date palms. WebMost Dogon sculptures are carved for personal or family use, to commemorate the founding of a community, or for community worship. 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. Encyclopedia of World Cultures. 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. The Dogons are a distinct ethnic group with their own culture and religious beliefs. Signs of other contacts and origins are evident in Dogon art. Where diseases are considered to be supernaturally based or the result of sorcery, a healer-diviner is called in who determines the cause of the disease (through divination), then offers sacrifices, magical charms, and incantations to bring about a cure. Each caste is endogamous, and members do not take part in any of the common religious cults. Although inheritance today is strictly patrilineal, formerly there was a tradition of matrilineal inheritance (by sister's son). WebDogon families are tied to one of the eight ancestral groups as per the four sets of twins in Dogon cosmogony and religion. [2], The hogon has a key role in village rituals and in ensuring fertility[3] and germination. 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? This chief head is the oldest living son of the ancestor of the local branch of the family. The horse, symbolizing power and wealth, is The designation "Naga" is applied to the numerous Indo-Mongoloid tribes living in the hill country at the, Chin Morton, Robert (ed.) Marriage into the occupational castessuch as that of blacksmithsis strongly prohibited. 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. The other factor influencing their choice of settlement location was access to water. [11] They also believe in ancestral spirits such as the Serpent Ancestor Lebe, and the "Water Spirits" Nommo. Religious Practitioners. Thought to have originated as a method to unite and keep peace among Dogon villages, the 'sigi' involves all members of the Dogon people. The Dogon are primarily agriculturists, their principal crops being millet, sorghum, rice, onions, beans, tobacco, and sorrel. Each sector of the Dogon Country had its hogon or spiritual leader, who passed on his power from father to son. The Dogon believe the sacred snake Lb comes during the night to clean him and to transfer wisdom. The Dogon are primarily agriculturalists and cultivate millet, sorghum and rice, as well as onions, tobacco, peanuts, and some other vegetables. 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. 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]. [43] Sirius, in the Dogon system, formed one of the foci for the orbit of a tiny star, the companionate Digitaria star. [3], The Dogon are best known for their religious traditions, their mask dances, wooden sculpture, and their architecture. 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. Although some Dogon accepted the new regime, many strongly opposed and resisted it for many years. 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). Markets are held every four or five days in areas well removed from the villages. Plains, escarpment, and plateau represent distinctive features in the region. Their eyes were red, their tongues forked, and their arms flexible and unjointed.[21]. "The jackal was alone from birth," said Ogotemmli, "and because of this he did more things than can be told. 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.) Griaule encouraged the construction of a dam near Sangha and persuaded the Dogon to cultivate onions. Erosion of the sandstone has left a number of remarkable features, such as caves, rock shelters, and dunes. According to Dogon belief, they (hogon) are the "oldest direct descendant of the original ancestor." During the danyim, masqueraders perform dances every morning and evening for any period up to six days, depending on that village's practice. [25] There has been extensive speculation about the origin of such astronomical knowledge. 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. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Land Tenure. 23 Feb. 2023
How To Attach Calendar Invite To Email Outlook 365,
John Starnes Gospel Singer Age,
Names That Mean Sadness,
Articles H
