Ogotemmli classified the Nummo as hermaphrodites. [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? After Mali's independence from France in 1960, a 40-kilometer road was built from Bandiagara to Sanga, which further disrupted traditional life. [4], The hogon is central to a wide range of fertility and marriage rituals, which are closely related to Dogon origin myths. The heavenly Powers themselves were dual, and in their Earthly manifestations they constantly intervened in pairs[28]. Dogon funeral rituals come in two parts. 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. 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. Thought to have originated as a method to unite and keep peace among Dogon villages, the 'sigi' involves all members of the Dogon people. In comparison with the neighboring Fulani, animal husbandry is relatively unimportant. Influence from Tellem art is evident in Dogon art because of its rectilinear designs (Laude, 24). Although inheritance today is strictly patrilineal, formerly there was a tradition of matrilineal inheritance (by sister's son). The virgin is replaced by one of his wives, and she also returns to her home at night. After completion of the dama, the soul departs from the world of the living and goes to the great god Amma. The Awa is a masked dance society that holds ritual and social importance. Because the word sewa is so commonly repeated throughout a Dogon village, neighboring peoples have dubbed the Dogon the sewa people. [15] These jihadic expeditions formed themselves to force the Dogon to abandon their traditional religious beliefs for Islam. For the ethnic group of the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north of Ghana, see. 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. Another indication of this is the subjectobjectverb basic word order, which Dogon shares with such early NigerCongo branches as Ijoid and Mande. 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"). Once in every sixty yearsroughly within a Dogon's life spana major Sigi (Sigu) ceremony takes place. As sacred leader of the Lebe cult he oversees the important planting and These events are held annually to honor the elders who have died since the last Dama. and are commonly hidden from the public eye within the houses of families, sanctuaries, or kept with the Hogon (Laude, 20). While the castes are correlated to profession, membership is determined by birth. Each caste is endogamous, and members do not take part in any of the common religious cults. But after this generation, human beings were usually born single. Ritual dance of Dogon County (Gleeson, G / CC BY 2.0 ). Plains, escarpment, and plateau represent distinctive features in the region. The ritual language, "Sigi so" or "language of the Sigui", which was taught to male dignitaries of the Society of the Masks ("awa"), was considered a poor language. European contact was first made in 1857. Masques dogons. They were one of the last people in West Africa to lose their independence and come under French rule.[18]. Dieterlen, G., 1955. 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. 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. Some of the most beautiful sights to see in China are the classical Suzhou gardens. How the Dogon Preserved Their Unique Culture Along The Cliff Unfortunately, the majority of these animistic spiritual practices tend to disappear with the younger generations and the widespread adoption of Islam. The most ancient dialects are dyamsay and tombo, the former being most frequently used for traditional prayers and ritual chants. Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! [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]. 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. Orientation The household is usually an extended family consisting of both nuclear and polygynous units. The Dogon are strongly oriented toward harmony, which is reflected in many of their rituals. Linguistic Affiliation. Social Organization. The Hogon has to live alone in his house. Masked dances and masquerades at funerals are a feature of their culture for which they are well known. Griaule encouraged the construction of a dam near Sangha and persuaded the Dogon to cultivate onions. Marriage. 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. The hogon is always a man. He is elected from among the oldest men of the dominant lineage of the village. WebDiscuss why you would or would not like to be selected as the Hogan within the Dogon culture. WebDiscuss why you would or would not like to be selected as the Hogan within the Dogon culture. [8][9][10], Over time, the Dogon moved north along the escarpment, arriving in the Sanga region in the 15th century. ", "Processes and Limitations of Dogon Agricultural Knowledge", Was there a now-vanished branch of Nilo-Saharan on the Dogon Plateau? 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]. 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 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). [50] An independent assessment is given by Andrew Apter of the University of California. & E.I.K. Durieux-Boon (2004). Then the Dogon who has entered the contact repeats the ritual, asking the resident how his or her whole family is. Today, at least 35% of the Dogon practice Islam. Land Tenure. Although Temple fails to prove its antiquity, the evidence for the recent acquisition of the information is still entirely circumstantial. The smiths have important ritual powers and are characteristically poor. 15th19th century. Paris: Institut d'Ethnologie. "[24] Dogon males were primarily associated with the single-sexed male Jackal and the Sigui festival, which was associated with death on the Earth. Industrial Arts. 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. 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. 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. 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). Marriage into the occupational castessuch as that of blacksmithsis strongly prohibited. Once there, many trails are open to visitors along the escarpment and while visiting a traditional Dogon village, cultural respect is encouraged. Was this German silver mine really defended by two Roman forts and a line of "spike defenses? [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]. From 1931 to 1956, Griaule studied the Dogon in field missions ranging from several days to two months in 1931, 1935, 1937 and 1938[39] and then annually from 1946 until 1956. The Chilling Mystery of the Octavius Ghost Ship, What is a Wendigo? [Editor's Note: In this article the established spellings of Kota words have been retained, al, ETHNONYMS: none Death and Afterlife. 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). Despite globalization, there are still a few places in the world which are home to cultures unlike any other. Each village is composed of one main lineage (occasionally, multiple lineages make up a single village) traced through the male line. 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. Religious Practitioners. Man in Peru Caught Out Drinking With an 800-year-old Mummy! Davis, Shawn R. Dogon Funerals in African Art; Summer 2002, Vol. [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. Current Anthropology, Vol. It was first inhabited by the Tellem, Stone Age hunters, at least 10,000 years ago. Subsistence and Commercial Activities. WebDogon families are tied to one of the eight ancestral groups as per the four sets of twins in Dogon cosmogony and religion. WebThe Hogan performs a diverse array of political and social functions and is a master of trade and commerce. 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. The Kanaga masqueraders, at one point, dance and sit next to the bundkamba, which represents the deceased. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. The key spiritual figures in the religion were the Nummo/Nommo twins. Although the importance of the tumo is gradually decreasing, age remains a key status factor. The escarpment is rich in archaeological discoveries both from the Dogon and the earlier Tellem society. This marks the end of their youth, and they are initiated. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. Craft specialization is determined by gender and caste. "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. Similarly each village may have their own way of performing the dama rituals. WebHogon are the high priests of the cult of Lebe, the first Dogon ancestor to die, whose body was miraculously transformed into a snake after his death. However, even in polygynous marriages, it is rare for a man to have more than two wives. Identification. WebThe Hogon must live alone in his house. The mausoleum was built during the reign of Timur, the ruler of the Timurid Empire. Paris: ditions Domat-Montchrestien, F. Loviton. 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. Every four days, Dogon people participate in markets with neighboring tribes, such as the Fulani and the Dyula. "Mythes et organisation sociale au Soudan franais". I have lived nearby and visited Dogon country. 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. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/dogon. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. Encyclopedia.com. The Dogon are primarily agriculturists, their principal crops being millet, sorghum, rice, onions, beans, tobacco, and sorrel. The cliffs and rocky terrain provided excellent protection from slave Women may leave their husbands early in their marriage, before the birth of their first child. Every Dogon village or clan has its own totem. ETHNONYM: Panjabi 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. Beierle, John "Dogon 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 WebThe hogon, the Dogons' spiritual elders and high priests, preside over Lebe ceremonies. 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. Encyclopedia.com. A secret language known as sigi so is used by members of the men's society (awa ) in connection with religious rites. Divorce is not uncommon; it occurs most often in polygynous households. In 1912 a school was established for them in Sanga, followed by a Christian mission in the 1930s, and later a medical dispensary. 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. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. The degree of complexity of the ceremonies depends upon the age and status of the deceased male. Individuals with high status may own a small number of cattle.[30]. [13] As the growth of cities increased, the demand for slaves across the region of West Africa also increased. 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. [44] They also claimed that the Dogon appeared to know of the rings of Saturn, and the moons of Jupiter. Their images or figures appeared on the female side of the Dogon sanctuary. [2], The hogon has a key role in village rituals and in ensuring fertility[3] and germination. Funerals for women, who are generally excluded from awa membership, are simple, with little if any ceremony. All initiated Dogon men participate in Awa, with the exception of some caste members. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Les dogon. The answer is sewa, which means that everything is fine. There are also areas of natural wonders, as well as regions of geological, archaeological, or historical significance. 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. [3], The Dogon are best known for their religious traditions, their mask dances, wooden sculpture, and their architecture. Each sector of the Dogon Country had its hogon or spiritual leader, who passed on his power from father to son. Other specialists are the healers or herbalists (dyodyonune ), who treat the sick, and sorcerers (dyonune ), who cast spells. [28] Today, a significant minority of the Dogon practice Islam. [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. It is thus mysterious that there are so few references to the planets in ancient literature. During the yincomoli ceremony, a gourd is smashed over the deceased's wooden bowl, hoe, and bundukamba (burial blanket). Since the twentieth century, there have been significant changes in the social organisation, material culture and beliefs of the Dogon, in part because Dogon country is one of Mali's major tourist attractions. The Dogon are primarily agriculturalists and cultivate millet, sorghum and rice, as well as onions, tobacco, peanuts, and some other vegetables. Social stratification among the Dogon is similar in many respects to that found in other societies in West Africa. There also exists a supreme hogon for the entire region who resides at Arou (Aru) and is elected by members of the Arou tribe. [12] See also [ edit] Pangool Mand creation myth Samay (mythology) Zin (water spirits) Traditional African religion portal Mali portal References [ edit] "[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. 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. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Pern, Stephen (1982). About 10 percent of the Dogon are Christians. Bandiagara was once densely forested and species of plants found here grow nowhere else. 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 extensive escarpment runs for over 93 miles (150 km) and it is between 300 and 900 feet (100 - 500 meters) high. Ciarcia, Gaetano "Dogons et Dogon. 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? "[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. Such persons must submit to a number. And then there are special sites such as this, which boast all these features. According to Shawn R. Davis, this particular ritual incorporates the elements of the yingim and the danyim. Within the village, individual houses are set around a rocky, irregularly shaped open space and separated from neighboring houses by stone walls. 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