However, even in polygynous marriages, it is rare for a man to have more than two wives. 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. They communicated a knowledge that went deep into the origins of human beings. Also effective as means of inducing conformity are ridicule and threats of supernatural sanction. I View the full answer Previous question Next question 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 Dogon primarily sell agricultural commodities: onions, grain, cotton, and tobacco. 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". "[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". For the ethnic group of the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north of Ghana, see. ETHNONYMS: 'kKxou and related words; Mizo (same as Lushai), Zo, Zomi. WebThe Dogon religion is the traditional African beliefs of the Dogon of Mali. The escarpment is rich in archaeological discoveries both from the Dogon and the earlier Tellem society. It was held once every sixty years and allegedly celebrated the white dwarf star, Sirius B. 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. Once a boy is circumcised, he transitions into young adulthood and moves out of his father's house. Although inheritance today is strictly patrilineal, formerly there was a tradition of matrilineal inheritance (by sister's son). Monogamy is the major form of marriage, although nonsororal polygyny with a limit of two wives is permitted. [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 population numbers between 400,000 and 800,000. Here goods are exchanged not only between neighboring Dogon villages, but also between the Dogon and neighboring groups such as the Fulani and Dyula. Influence from Tellem art is evident in Dogon art because of its rectilinear designs (Laude, 24). Elaborate ceremonial stools of this kind were owned by the hogon, the supreme religious and political leader in each 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. Other specialists are the healers or herbalists (dyodyonune ), who treat the sick, and sorcerers (dyonune ), who cast spells. 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 Feb. 2023 . During this time, new masks are carved and dedicated to their ancestors. On average, a village contains around 44 houses organized around the 'ginna', or head man's house. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. 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). The Dogon are This was to prevent a being like the Jackal from ever being born on Earth again. [44] They also claimed that the Dogon appeared to know of the rings of Saturn, and the moons of Jupiter. Medicine. They speak the Dogon languages, which are considered to constitute an independent branch of the Marriage. Division of Labor. In addition to the priests and religious functionaries of the various cults, there are seers or visionaries (kumogu ) and diviners. Unfortunately, the majority of these animistic spiritual practices tend to disappear with the younger generations and the widespread adoption of Islam. The Dogon dialects are highly distinct from one another and many varieties are not mutually intelligible, actually amounting to some 12 dialects and 50 sub-dialects. [12] See also [ edit] Pangool Mand creation myth Samay (mythology) Zin (water spirits) Traditional African religion portal Mali portal References [ edit] A few villages also keep bees. 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. [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. 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. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. The virgin is replaced by one of his wives, and she also returns to her home at night. After being chosen, a hogon must pass through several months without washing or shaving. 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. 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. In a recent overview of the NigerCongo family, Dogon is treated as an independent branch.[3]. This marks the end of their youth, and they are initiated. After his election, he has to follow a six-month initiation period, during which he is not allowed to shave or wash. [24] (Originally, for the Dogon, man was endowed with a dual soul. This chief head is the oldest living son of the ancestor of the local branch of the family. Death and Afterlife. Wood and metal and more. After initiation, he wears a red cap, and a pearl bracelet. During the colonization of Mali by the French, the inhabitants of the escarpment were able to use caves and tunnels to avoid the Europeans and were able to preserve their way of life. [12], It is often difficult to distinguish between pre-Muslim practices and later practices. The key spiritual figures in the religion were the Nummo/Nommo twins. 35 Issue 2. 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. The village of Songho has a circumcision cave ornamented with red and white rock paintings of animals and plants. 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. Paris: Institut d'Ethnologie. 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.) There are two major events at which the Awa perform: the 'sigi' ritual and 'dama' funeral rituals.[35]. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. ', 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". 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). 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. 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. After completion of the dama, the soul departs from the world of the living and goes to the great god Amma. [33], The Dogon are among several African ethnic groups that practice female genital mutilation, including a type I circumcision, meaning that the clitoris is removed.[34]. Their bodies are treated 'We have in the Dogon information a predictive mechanism which it is our duty to test, regardless of our preconceptions.' Blood alliances frequently were contracted between the Dogon and other groups such as the Bozo. 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. (February 23, 2023). [6], According to legend, the first hogon, Lebe, was descended from a nommo. In the 7th century AD, the Byzantine Empire harnessed the power of fire with the creation of Greek fire, a weapon of destruction unlike any before its time. 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. Nearby is a cave where music instruments are stored. The colour white was a symbol of males. Encyclopedia.com. Ritual dance of Dogon County (Gleeson, G / CC BY 2.0 ). Griaule, Marcel (1938). Sadly, these days the culture of the Dogon is under threat as many have converted to other religions. Retours au 'pays du reel'", Genevive Calame-Griaule: "On the Dogon Restudied". [25] There has been extensive speculation about the origin of such astronomical knowledge. Hogon live alone and should be celibate, but a village girl may act as a maid. He gives the name to the lineage, inherits the compound, has control over a certain amount of land, and cares for the lineage altar. In 1995, gravitational studies indeed showed the possible presence of a brown dwarf star orbiting around Sirius (a Sirius-C) with a six-year orbital period. How the Dogon Preserved Their Unique Culture Along The Cliff Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! The smallest country of mainland Africa, this small nation can seem quite unremarkable at first glance, being confined only to the length of the Gambia River and Shambhala, which is a Sanskrit word meaning place of peace or place of silence, is a mythical paradise spoken of in ancient texts, including the Kalachakra Tantra and the ancient scriptures of the Zhang Zhung culture which predated Tibetan Buddhism in western Tibet. He was eaten by another nommo, and their spirits merged; the nommo vomited out a new Lebe (part human and part spiritual), plus copious liquid which shaped the landscape.[7]. Also returns to her home at night the religion were the Nummo/Nommo twins, new masks are and! 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