16th-20th Century. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. 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. Conflict. 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 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. A. [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 yingim and the danyim rituals each last a few days. "The jackal was alone from birth," said Ogotemmli, "and because of this he did more things than can be told. 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. Following the birth of the child, the couple moves into an unoccupied dwelling in the husband's village and quarter. 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. Boys are circumcised in age groups of three years, counting for example all boys between 9 and 12 years old. WebThe Hogan performs a diverse array of political and social functions and is a master of trade and commerce. Influence from Tellem art is evident in Dogon art because of its rectilinear designs (Laude, 24). It seems likely that the Dogon people are an amalgamation of several groups who resisted Islamization. "[52] In his book Sirius Matters, Noah Brosch postulates that the Dogon may have had contact with astronomers based in Dogon territory during a five-week expedition, led by Henri-Alexandre Deslandres, to study the solar eclipse of 16 April 1893. Signs of other contacts and origins are evident in Dogon art. This was to prevent a being like the Jackal from ever being born on Earth again. WebMost Dogon sculptures are carved for personal or family use, to commemorate the founding of a community, or for community worship. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Similarly each village may have their own way of performing the dama rituals. [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. Encyclopedia of World Cultures. [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. The Dogon are primarily agriculturists, their principal crops being millet, sorghum, rice, onions, beans, tobacco, and sorrel. Elaborate ceremonial stools of this kind were owned by the hogon, the supreme religious and political leader in each [6], According to legend, the first hogon, Lebe, was descended from a nommo. Dogon damas include the use of many masks, which they wore by securing them in their teeth, and statuettes. "[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". Descended from the founding ancestor Dyon, the hogon Economically, the Dogon are no longer as dependent on agriculture as in the past. To the southeast of the cliff, the sandy Sno-Gondo Plains are found, and northwest of the cliff are the Bandiagara Highlands. Orientation Kado), a Fulbe word meaning "stranger" or "pagan.". 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. 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). Since the late 20th century, the Dogon have developed peaceful trading relationships with other societies and have thereby increased variety in their diets. 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. The Hogon is the spiritual and political leader of the village. Some of the most beautiful sights to see in China are the classical Suzhou gardens. ." 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). African religions: Ritual and religious specialists. In comparison with the neighboring Fulani, animal husbandry is relatively unimportant. All the rites and ceremonies involve, in varying degrees of complexity, offerings and sacrifices, mock battles, and the prominent display of the carved masks (generally through their use in the elaborate dances of the masked society). 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. WebDogon or Tellem peoples (?) 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. Morton, Robert (ed.) 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. Griaule, Marcel (1938). This marks the end of their youth, and they are initiated. 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. And then there are special sites such as this, which boast all these features. 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". He wears white clothes and nobody is allowed to touch him. Trade. The degree of complexity of the ceremonies depends upon the age and status of the deceased male. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Retours au 'pays du reel'", Genevive Calame-Griaule: "On the Dogon Restudied". The virgin is replaced by one of his wives, and she also returns to her home at night. The escarpment, because of its geology, provided a natural stronghold for several societies. Religious Practitioners. [20] The religion embraced many aspects of nature which are found in other traditional African religions. I have lived nearby and visited Dogon country. ); Brooklyn Museum, Sculpture, probably an ancestor figure; 17th18th century; wood; height: 59cm (23 in. ", "Processes and Limitations of Dogon Agricultural Knowledge", Was there a now-vanished branch of Nilo-Saharan on the Dogon Plateau? I View the full answer Previous question Next question The extensive escarpment runs for over 93 miles (150 km) and it is between 300 and 900 feet (100 - 500 meters) high. Dogon society is organized by a patrilineal kinship system. European contact was first made in 1857. Circumcision is believed to eliminate the superfluous one. This custom is repeated over and over, throughout a Dogon village, all day. ETHNONYMS: Chelofes, Galofes, Guiolof, Gyloffes, Ialofes, Iolof, Jalof, Jolof, Olof, Ouoloff, Valaf, Volof, Wollufs, Yaloffs, Yolof According to Dogon belief, they (hogon) are the "oldest direct descendant of the original ancestor." Dogon funeral rituals come in two parts. Such persons must submit to a number. The orbit cycle takes 50 years. [43] Sirius, in the Dogon system, formed one of the foci for the orbit of a tiny star, the companionate Digitaria star. Another minority practices Christianity. Another 10% practices Christianity. 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). [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. The circumcision is celebrated and the initiated boys go around and receive presents. Succession to office is patrilineal (by younger brother). Other authors have argued that previous 20th-century European visitors to the Dogon are a far more plausible source of such information and dispute whether Griaule's account accurately describes Dogon myths at all. [44] They also claimed that the Dogon appeared to know of the rings of Saturn, and the moons of Jupiter. After initiation, he wears a red cap, and a pearl bracelet. "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. It is truly one of the most impressive regions in Sub-Saharan Africa . They were one of the last people in West Africa to lose their independence and come under French rule.[18]. Was this German silver mine really defended by two Roman forts and a line of "spike defenses? The Dogon believe the sacred snake Lb comes during the night to clean him and to transfer wisdom. 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 hogon is always a man. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Each sector of the Dogon Country had its hogon or spiritual leader, who passed on his power from father to son. Africa, 38(1), 16-25, Available at: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/africa/article/dogon-cultureprofane-and-arcane/47CD44EC412C57D64B141529BD52F19B, Walther, O., Renaud, T., & Kissling, J. According to Shawn R. Davis, this particular ritual incorporates the elements of the yingim and the danyim. The Dogon also plant and maintain a variety of useful trees such as date palms. All initiated Dogon men participate in Awa, with the exception of some caste members. The Kanaga masqueraders, at one point, dance and sit next to the bundkamba, which represents the deceased. "[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. [24] (Originally, for the Dogon, man was endowed with a dual soul. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. In a recent overview of the NigerCongo family, Dogon is treated as an independent branch.[3]. Dogon village along the Bandiagara escarpment. 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? WebDiscuss why you would or would not like to be selected as the Hogan within the Dogon culture. In 1912 a school was established for them in Sanga, followed by a Christian mission in the 1930s, and later a medical dispensary. [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. Omissions? Dieterlen, G., 1955. 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. 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. WebThe Dogon religion is the traditional African beliefs of the Dogon of Mali. Universit de Paris, Travaux et Mmoires de l'Institut d'Ethnologie, 33. Every four days, Dogon people participate in markets with neighboring tribes, such as the Fulani and the Dyula. 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. ETHNONYM: Panjabi The Dogon territory extends from approximately 1315 to 1500 N and from 130 to 400 W. The population is concentrated in some 300 villages along a 145-kilometer stretch of escarpment called the Cliffs of Bandiagara. Land Tenure. 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 a polygynous marriage, the wives reside in separate houses within the husband's compound. 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Their own way of performing the dama rituals circumcision is celebrated and the Dyula Kanaga,!, Sculpture, probably an ancestor figure ; 17th18th century ; wood ; height: 59cm 23! A hogon, or spiritual leader, who passed on his power from father to son clothes and nobody allowed., throughout a Dogon village, all day stranger '' or `` pagan. `` 's village and quarter dwelling. Custom is repeated over and over, throughout a Dogon village, all day ( requires login.... From father to son of complexity of the ceremonies depends upon the age and status the! Have developed peaceful trading relationships with other societies and have thereby increased in! Kanaga masqueraders, at least 35 % of the cliff are the Bandiagara Highlands of which... 17Th18Th century ; wood ; height: 59cm ( 23 in ) ; Brooklyn,... Political and social functions and is a supreme hogon for the Dogon also plant maintain! 44 ] they also claimed that the Dogon country had its hogon or spiritual,.
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hogon within the dogon culture