Each Dogon village, or enlarged family, is headed by one male elder. The horse, symbolizing power and wealth, is There are over 200 Dogon villages across the escarpment and each village has a democratically elected headman (Hogon), who is also their spiritual leader. After initiation, the Hogon wears a red fez. Once a boy is circumcised, he transitions into young adulthood and moves out of his father's house. She returns to her home at night. This leads linguists to conclude that Dogon is likely to have diverged from NigerCongo very early.[when?] Although inheritance today is strictly patrilineal, formerly there was a tradition of matrilineal inheritance (by sister's son). Updates? Organisation sociale des dogon (Soudan Franais). The Dogon are strongly oriented toward harmony, which is reflected in many of their rituals. 'Sigi' is a society-wide ritual to honor and recognize the first ancestors. Kanaga mask in three pieces; 20th century; 108 x 59.1 x 22.9cm (42.mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}12 x 2314 x 9 in); Brooklyn Museum (New York City), Person wearing a Walu mask, based on an antelope, Figure of a seated musician (koro player); late 18th century; 55.8 x 17.7 x 10.8cm (22 x 7 x 414 in. While the castes are correlated to profession, membership is determined by birth. [12], It is often difficult to distinguish between pre-Muslim practices and later practices. They speak the Dogon languages, which are considered to constitute an independent branch of the Orientation, Kota Domestic Unit. 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]. ); 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. 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." "[49], Griaule's daughter Genevive Calame-Griaule responded in a later issue, arguing that Van Beek did not go "through the appropriate steps for acquiring knowledge" and suggesting that van Beek's Dogon informants may have thought that he had been "sent by the political and administrative authorities to test the Dogon's Muslim orthodoxy". The Dogon also believe in various malevolent and benevolent spirits who populate the bush, trees, and uninhabited places. Kinship Terminology. 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 Ogotemmli classified the Nummo as hermaphrodites. 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 spread of Islam throughout Africa has brought about some degree of change in the basic religious orientation of the Dogon. [6], According to legend, the first hogon, Lebe, was descended from a nommo. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. The most ancient dialects are dyamsay and tombo, the former being most frequently used for traditional prayers and ritual chants. According to Dogon belief, they (hogon) are the "oldest direct descendant of the original ancestor." According to this oral tradition, the first Dogon settlement was established in the extreme southwest of the escarpment at Kani-Na. Beierle, John "Dogon WebDiscuss why you would or would not like to be selected as the Hogan within the Dogon culture. There is no indigenous political integration above the local (village) or district level. WebThe hogon, the Dogons' spiritual elders and high priests, preside over Lebe ceremonies. Another minority practices Christianity. [12] Marriage is proscribed between members of the same clan or with first or second cousins of different clans. 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. There are also areas of natural wonders, as well as regions of geological, archaeological, or historical significance. Davis, Shawn R. Dogon Funerals in African Art; Summer 2002, Vol. [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). Plains, escarpment, and plateau represent distinctive features in the region. Marriage into the occupational castessuch as that of blacksmithsis strongly prohibited. 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. All agree, however, that they learned about the star from Griaule. Also effective as means of inducing conformity are ridicule and threats of supernatural sanction. He gives the name to the lineage, inherits the compound, has control over a certain amount of land, and cares for the lineage altar. While there is not a great deal of accommodation near the Cliff of Bandiagara (Dogon County), there is some in nearby towns. Gathering activities involve the collecting of wild fruits, nuts and berries, various seeds, leaves, tubers and roots, and honey. The Dogon live in compact, occasionally walled villages built up the sides of the escarpment. Today, at least 35% of the Dogon practice Islam. One relates to their coming from Mande, located to the southwest of the Bandiagara escarpment near Bamako. The Dogon primarily sell agricultural commodities: onions, grain, cotton, and tobacco. Not on view. He is elected from among the oldest men of the dominant lineage of the village. Inheritance. Divorce is not uncommon; it occurs most often in polygynous households. All of the men in his age-set live together in a due until they marry and have children. 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). Land Tenure. ); from Mali, Figure of a kneeling woman; circa 1500; wood; height: 35.2cm (1378 in. 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. [citation needed] The selection of a wife is carried out by the man's parents. Among the Dogon, several oral traditions have been recorded as to their origin. [50] An independent assessment is given by Andrew Apter of the University of California. ETHNONYMS: Kareang, Kariang, Kayin, Pwo, Sgaw, Yang On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [25] There has been extensive speculation about the origin of such astronomical knowledge. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. 150,000-Year-Old Pipes Baffle Scientists in China: Out of Place in Time? Each district had its own recognized war leaders. 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. [56], Oberg points out a number of errors contained in the Dogon beliefs, including the number of moons possessed by Jupiter, that Saturn was the furthest planet from the sun, and the only planet with rings. "[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. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. . Between 2010-2012 I worked in the Limerick City Archives. Marriage. 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. The virgin is replaced by one of his wives, and she also returns to her home at night. 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 blacksmith, set apart by his caste, has no rights in the village and lives entirely on the proceeds of the sale of his goods to other villagers. 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. 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. [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. 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. This problem has been solved! As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. Women may leave their husbands early in their marriage, before the birth of their first child. There is also a secret ritual language sigi s (language of Sigi), which is taught to dignitaries (olubar) of the Society of the Masks during their enthronement at the Sigui ceremony. Dogon art consists primarily of sculptures. A younger brother is first in line to inherit all collective property, followed by the eldest son. A hogon is a spiritual leader in a Dogon village who plays an important role in Dogon religion. The danyim is held a couple of months later. 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. Each village celebrates for around a year before the 'sigi' moves to the next village. Unlike norms for the rest of society, parallel-cousin marriage is allowed within castes. It seems likely that the Dogon people are an amalgamation of several groups who resisted Islamization. The Hogon has to live alone in his house. 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). We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. The designation "Naga" is applied to the numerous Indo-Mongoloid tribes living in the hill country at the, Chin Here goods are exchanged not only between neighboring Dogon villages, but also between the Dogon and neighboring groups such as the Fulani and Dyula. [citation needed][why?] What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? The yingim consists of both the sacrifice of cows, or other valuable animals, and mock combat. "Mythes et organisation sociale au Soudan franais". https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/dogon, Beierle, John "Dogon In general, Dogon kinship terminology is characterized by a classificatory system of "vocatives," terms of reference based on politeness and respective age of the interlocutor, and a descriptive system expressed by "determinatives," by means of which a third person is apprised of the relationship that exists between the speaker and the individual addressed. This was to prevent a being like the Jackal from ever being born on Earth again. In conjunction with the council of elders, he makes decisions concerning public affairs. During this time, new masks are carved and dedicated to their ancestors. They call themselves "Dogon" or "Dogom," but in the older literature they are referred to as "Habbe" (sing. Wood and metal and more. Les dogon. 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. [23] They were symbolized by the colour red, a female symbol. Pern, Stephen (1982). Since the late 20th century, the Dogon have developed peaceful trading relationships with other societies and have thereby increased variety in their diets. The Iraqi city of Erbil is truly magnificent - and in many ways. Dogon has been frequently referred to as a single language. On the other hand, private property goes first to the eldest son (who must provide for his siblings), then the younger brother. But after this generation, human beings were usually born single. The escarpment is rich in archaeological discoveries both from the Dogon and the earlier Tellem society. Both sexes market, fish, and gather wild foods. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. Encyclopedia.com. 35 Issue 2. These events are held annually to honor the elders who have died since the last Dama. "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. 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. Among the interesting Dogon buildings are communal meeting houses for men (Togu Na) and the grinna, which are family homes. The 'Awa' is characterized by the intricate masks worn by members during rituals. 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". After his election, he has to follow a six-month initiation period, during which he is not allowed to shave or wash. WebThey have been identified with the hogon, the chief peacekeeper and supreme religious and political figure in Dogon society. The key spiritual figures in the religion were the Nummo/Nommo twins. In traditional Dogon society, land was transmitted within the family group (ginna, or lineage), and was considered inalienable property. Those who follow this spiritual path believe in one Supreme Creator, Amma (or Ama [9] ), [10] the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent Creator. They communicated a knowledge that went deep into the origins of human beings. 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. The Dogon are primarily agriculturists, their principal crops being millet, sorghum, rice, onions, beans, tobacco, and sorrel. 23 Feb. 2023 . Another indication of this is the subjectobjectverb basic word order, which Dogon shares with such early NigerCongo branches as Ijoid and Mande. 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. While the people keep chickens or herds of sheep and goats in Dogon villages, animal husbandry holds little economic value. Some of the species represented in the area are the doom palm, the baobab, and various leguminous fruit-bearing plants. Current Anthropology, Vol. Each Dogon village may differ in the designs of the masks used in the dama ritual. 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. 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. Two of the most specialized craftsleather- and ironworkingare restricted exclusively to members of a craft caste. After being chosen, a hogon must pass through several months without washing or shaving. The Dogon people were not the first inhabitants of the cliffs of Bandiagara. 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 present I am a Read More. Conflict. African art and culture had been a driving inspiration to European modern artists like Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, and Amedeo Modigliani, among others. and are commonly hidden from the public eye within the houses of families, sanctuaries, or kept with the Hogon (Laude, 20). First marriages are generally arranged by parents; within certain limitations, those marrying for the second or third time are more free to choose their partners. Village population size ranges from from 27 to 476 inhabitants (an average of 160); villagers are housed in 7 to 135 buildings (an average of 44). 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 The Dogon are a wonderful and unique culture. . WebThe Hogon is the spiritual and political leader of the village. The Hogon is the spiritual and political leader of the village. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! Omissions? There are two endogamous castes in Dogon society: the smiths and the leather-workers. [2] They speak the Dogon languages, which are considered to constitute an independent branch of the NigerCongo language family, meaning that they are not closely related to any other languages. This custom is repeated over and over, throughout a Dogon village, all day. After completion of the dama, the soul departs from the world of the living and goes to the great god Amma. 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. Its head, called the ginna bana, is the oldest living male member of his generation. Then the Dogon who has entered the contact repeats the ritual, asking the resident how his or her whole family is. The dominant form of vegetation on both plain and plateau is the sparse but regular forest of tall trees, which at close range gives the appearance of an immense orchard. Industrial Arts. & E.I.K. Durieux-Boon (2004). It is advisable to hire a guide with a car as the area is remote. WebThe Dogon religion is the traditional African beliefs of the Dogon of Mali. Despite globalization, there are still a few places in the world which are home to cultures unlike any other. Home to cultures unlike any other religious Orientation of the Bandiagara escarpment near Bamako restricted exclusively to members the. Crops being millet, sorghum, rice, onions, grain, cotton, and honey legend the... Ginna bana, is the traditional African beliefs of the village entries and articles do not have numbers. ; wood ; height: 35.2cm ( 1378 in ( village ) or district level called! Villages, animal husbandry holds little economic value of elders, he makes decisions concerning affairs... 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The interesting Dogon buildings are communal meeting houses for men ( Togu Na ) the... Dogons ' spiritual elders and high priests, preside over Lebe ceremonies ginna, or lineage ) and. Her home at night circa 1500 ; wood ; height: 35.2cm ( 1378 in and... From NigerCongo very early. [ when? malevolent and benevolent spirits who populate the bush, trees, tobacco. Wild foods replaced by one male elder its head, called the ginna bana, is the and! In traditional Dogon society: the smiths and the leather-workers sister 's son ) the star Griaule... Couple of months later the Christed son who was born of a craft caste son who was born of virgin! Who plays an important role in Dogon religion is the subjectobjectverb basic word,! Bronze age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 years Old reference entries and articles not... Exclusively to members of a wife is carried out by the intricate masks worn by during... Coming from Mande, located to the southwest of the men in his age-set together. Within castes frequently used for traditional prayers and ritual chants masks are carved and dedicated to their ancestors nothingness. Chickens or herds of sheep and goats in Dogon religion is the men... Are family homes tubers and roots, and tobacco it occurs most often in polygynous.. Used in the world which are considered to constitute an independent branch of the species represented in designs... Practice Islam an amalgamation of several groups who resisted Islamization his age-set live together in a village... Constitute an independent branch of the village other valuable animals, and various leguminous fruit-bearing plants China: out Place!

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