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. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. I have written a book and several peer reviewed journal articles. (2003), Wanono, Nadine & Renaudeau, Michel (1996), Hochstetler, J. Lee, Durieux, J. WebDogon families are tied to one of the eight ancestral groups as per the four sets of twins in Dogon cosmogony and religion. 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. Social Organization. Dogon door with stylized figures (Wegmann, M/ CC BY 3.0 ). He has an armband with a sacred pearl that symbolises his function. The Dogons are a distinct ethnic group with their own culture and religious beliefs. Each village is composed of one main lineage (occasionally, multiple lineages make up a single village) traced through the male line. 1000-1500 AD, Dogon Sculpture, Mali. 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. The most ancient dialects are dyamsay and tombo, the former being most frequently used for traditional prayers and ritual chants. The newly circumcised youths, now considered young men, walk around naked for a month after the procedure so that their achievement in age can be admired by the tribe. While the castes are correlated to profession, membership is determined by birth. 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. 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. They call themselves "Dogon" or "Dogom," but in the older literature they are referred to as "Habbe" (sing. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! In traditional Dogon society, land was transmitted within the family group (ginna, or lineage), and was considered inalienable property. The yingim and the danyim rituals each last a few days. Wood and metal and more. Industrial Arts. 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. African religions: Ritual and religious specialists. Dogon society is organized by a patrilineal kinship system. 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. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. Here goods are exchanged not only between neighboring Dogon villages, but also between the Dogon and neighboring groups such as the Fulani and Dyula. 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. ." You'll get a detailed solution from a subject matter expert that helps you learn core concepts. Kado), a Fulbe word meaning "stranger" or "pagan.". [14], For almost 1000 years,[15] the Dogon people, an ancient ethnic group of Mali[16] had faced religious and ethnic persecutionthrough jihads by dominant Muslim communities. Dogon sculptures are not made to be seen publicly, and are commonly hidden from the public eye within the houses of families, sanctuaries, or kept with the Hogon (Laude, 20). Dogon has been frequently referred to as a single language. Influence from Tellem art is evident in Dogon art because of its rectilinear designs (Laude, 24). Some young men will hunt for small game, but wild animals are relatively scarce near villages. The population numbers between 400,000 and 800,000. 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. [12], It is often difficult to distinguish between pre-Muslim practices and later practices. Once a boy is circumcised, he transitions into young adulthood and moves out of his father's house. The curvilinear design and the accompanying child suggest a female. It has a strict code of etiquette, obligations, interdicts, and a secret language (sigi so). 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 village of Songho has a circumcision cave ornamented with red and white rock paintings of animals and plants. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. The Chilling Mystery of the Octavius Ghost Ship, What is a Wendigo? Grain is stored in granaries. Biographies - Hogon | African Religious Leader | Britannica The yingim consists of both the sacrifice of cows, or other valuable animals, and mock combat. Marriage is proscribed between members of the same clan or with first or second cousins of different clans. (2008). 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. https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/dogon, Beierle, John "Dogon 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. Socialization. Every Dogon village or clan has its own totem. There are also two types of granaries - male granaries with a pointed roof is where seeds are stored, and female granaries (without points) are where the women of this society (who are economically independent from their husbands), store their personal belongings. It is truly one of the most impressive regions in Sub-Saharan Africa . Their bodies are treated The fundamental unit of Dogon social organization is the patrilineage, or ginna. 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. [54] James Oberg, however, citing these suspicions notes their completely speculative nature, writing that, "The obviously advanced astronomical knowledge must have come from somewhere, but is it an ancient bequest or a modern graft? 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. The authority of the household unit is vested in the father, who controls both the economic and ceremonial functions of the family and demands unquestioning obedience from his offspring. Kin Groups and Descent. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. . [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. 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. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? Dogons originated for the first time from the West bank of Niger around 1490 There are three principal 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]. Inheritance. Marriage. 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. [45], Griaule and Dieterlen were puzzled by this Sudanese star system, and prefaced their analysis with the disclaimer, "The problem of knowing how, with no instruments at their disposal, men could know the movements and certain characteristics of virtually invisible stars has not been settled, nor even posed. The Dogon are best identified for their religious traditions, the mask dances, wooden This leads linguists to conclude that Dogon is likely to have diverged from NigerCongo very early.[when?] Omissions? [25] There has been extensive speculation about the origin of such astronomical knowledge. Such persons must submit to a number. Formed by a range of sandstone hills, the cliff has a distinctive geology and forms a natural redoubt which is somewhat isolated from the surrounding region as it is bookmarked between two mountains. They were one of the last people in West Africa to lose their independence and come under French rule.[18]. Masques dogons. The mausoleum was built during the reign of Timur, the ruler of the Timurid Empire. Masked Dancers of West Africa: The Dogon. 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. Land Tenure. [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]. Boys are circumcised in age groups of three years, counting for example all boys between 9 and 12 years old. Hogon live alone and should be celibate, but a village girl may act as a maid. 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. [5], The hogon may conduct rituals in the Sanctuaire de Binou, a special building the door of which is blocked with rocks. Dogon funeral rituals come in two parts. [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. 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. Today, at least 35% of the Dogon practice Islam. It is obvious to any astronomer that some of the brightest objects in the night sky are the planets. Markets are held every four or five days in areas well removed from the villages. 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. Their images or figures appeared on the female side of the Dogon sanctuary. And then there are special sites such as this, which boast all these features. African art and culture had been a driving inspiration to European modern artists like Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, and Amedeo Modigliani, among others. The principal ceremonies center around agriculture and death. ." Among the interesting Dogon buildings are communal meeting houses for men (Togu Na) and the grinna, which are family homes. WebDogon Female Ancestor Sculpture. Starting in the northeastern part of Dogon territory, each village takes turns celebrating and hosting elaborate feasts, ceremonies, and festivities. While the people keep chickens or herds of sheep and goats in Dogon villages, animal husbandry holds little economic value. In comparison with the neighboring Fulani, animal husbandry is relatively unimportant. Once there, many trails are open to visitors along the escarpment and while visiting a traditional Dogon village, cultural respect is encouraged. Marriage into the occupational castessuch as that of blacksmithsis strongly prohibited. 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. 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). Women are forbidden from joining and prohibited from learning sigi so. The Dogon are primarily agriculturists, their principal crops being millet, sorghum, rice, onions, beans, tobacco, and sorrel. Pottery and spinning are the exclusive domain of women, whereas basketry and weaving are male activities. Identification. [20] The religion embraced many aspects of nature which are found in other traditional African religions. Social stratification among the Dogon is similar in many respects to that found in other societies in West Africa. Economically, the Dogon are no longer as dependent on agriculture as in the past. Gathering activities involve the collecting of wild fruits, nuts and berries, various seeds, leaves, tubers and roots, and honey. 15th19th century. "[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". Each sector of the Dogon Country had its hogon or spiritual leader, who passed on his power from father to son. Conflict. During this time, new masks are carved and dedicated to their ancestors. The Dogon are a wonderful and unique culture. There are two endogamous castes in Dogon society: the smiths and the leather-workers. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. There also exists a supreme hogon for the entire region who resides at Arou (Aru) and is elected by members of the Arou tribe. [22] They were primarily symbolized by the sun, which was a female symbol in the religion. 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). Although the importance of the tumo is gradually decreasing, age remains a key status factor. WebThe Hogan performs a diverse array of political and social functions and is a master of trade and commerce. ETHNONYMS: Cohatur, Kohatur, Kotar, Koter, Kothur WebStudy with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Sculpture Tellem, Mali. Despite globalization, there are still a few places in the world which are home to cultures unlike any other. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Wood, covered with sacrifical materials, Seated Couple, Dogon, Mali. It is likely that the Dogon of today are descendants of several groups of diverse origin who migrated to escape Islamization. . [8][9][10], Over time, the Dogon moved north along the escarpment, arriving in the Sanga region in the 15th century. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France. Paris: Institut d'Ethnologie. The Carnac stones are an exceptionally dense collection of megalithic sites around the French village of Carnac, in Brittany, consisting of more than 3,000 prehistoric standing stones and erected by the pre-Celtic people of Brittany. & Hollyman, Stephenie (photographs) & Walter E.A. Davis, Shawn R. Dogon Funerals in African Art; Summer 2002, Vol. Work activities are clearly differentiated. 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]. Religious Practitioners. Medicine. Another indication of this is the subjectobjectverb basic word order, which Dogon shares with such early NigerCongo branches as Ijoid and Mande. The wet season begins in June and continues through October, with cool and hot dry seasons the remainder of the year. To revise the article Fulbe word meaning `` stranger '' or `` pagan. `` village. 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