After being chosen, a hogon must pass through several months without washing or shaving. Houses are built extremely close together, many times sharing walls and floors. Religious Beliefs. "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. His saliva is the source of the life-giving humidity, and his foot must not touch the earth directly or the ground will dry up. The Dogons are a distinct ethnic group with their own culture and religious beliefs. 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." Between 2010-2012 I worked in the Limerick City Archives. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! The Hogon has to live alone in his house. In a polygynous marriage, the wives reside in separate houses within the husband's compound. 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 Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. 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. Inheritance. Succession to office is patrilineal (by younger brother). Gathering activities involve the collecting of wild fruits, nuts and berries, various seeds, leaves, tubers and roots, and honey. Orientation This was to prevent a being like the Jackal from ever being born on Earth again. Other crops include sesame, maize, peanuts, yams, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, okra, watermelons, papayas, some figs, gourds, and cotton. The Dogon use this entertainment to earn income by charging tourists money for the masks they want to see and for the ritual itself (Davis, 68). 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). Articulo-Journal of Urban Research, (4), Available at: https://journals.openedition.org/articulo/417, My name is Edward Whelan and I graduated with a PhD in history in 2008. The escarpment is rich in archaeological discoveries both from the Dogon and the earlier Tellem society. The colour white was a symbol of males. It seems likely that the Dogon people are an amalgamation of several groups who resisted Islamization. Work activities are clearly differentiated. Dogon CultureProfane and Arcane . These events are held annually to honor the elders who have died since the last Dama. The circumcision is celebrated and the initiated boys go around and receive presents. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. The dama consists of an event, known as the Halic, that is held immediately after the death of a person and lasts for one day (Davis, 68). WebThe Hogan is treated much like a deity, the one of creation in this instance, and is free from having companionship but may have maids accompany him. [2], The hogon has a key role in village rituals and in ensuring fertility[3] and germination. 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? Of the many fascinating fossil sites in Africa, an important one is the Cradle of Humankind outside of Johannesburg, South Africa. 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. For the ethnic group of the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north of Ghana, see. This chief head is the oldest living son of the ancestor of the local branch of the family. 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. Subsistence and Commercial Activities. 35 Issue 2. ETHNONYMS: 'kKxou and related words; Mizo (same as Lushai), Zo, Zomi. Retours au 'pays du reel'", Genevive Calame-Griaule: "On the Dogon Restudied". Today, at least 35% of the Dogon practice Islam. 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. Identification. According to this oral tradition, the first Dogon settlement was established in the extreme southwest of the escarpment at Kani-Na. Signs of other contacts and origins are evident in Dogon art. When Digitaria is closest to Sirius, that star brightens: when it is farthest from Sirius, it gives off a twinkling effect that suggests to the observer several stars. A men's society, frequently referred to as the "awa," or masked-dance society, is characterized by a strict code of etiquette, obligations, interdicts, and a secret language (sigi so). After initiation, he wears a red cap, and a pearl bracelet. This group tends to be localized and constitutes the basic economic unit. Dogon door with stylized figures (Wegmann, M/ CC BY 3.0 ). Each village is composed of one main lineage (occasionally, multiple lineages make up a single village) traced through the male line. They purchase sugar, salt, European merchandise, and many animal products, such as milk, butter, and dried fish. 23 Feb. 2023 . The hogon is assisted in office by a sacrificial totem priest (yebene ), three bodyguards or policemen, a public crier or herald, and an ambassador who deals with other districts. The Hogon is the spiritual and political leader of the village. The Dogon migrated after the empire's collapse to the cliffs of the Bandiagara plateau. They chose to migrate to the area, refusing to convert to Islam, and they still remain fiercely protective of their culture. 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. Villages usually contain a single localized lineage whose dwellings are grouped around the "great house" (ginna ) of the head. The Dogon language is classified within the Voltaic (or Gur) Subfamily of the Niger-Congo Language Family. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. The principal ceremonies center around agriculture and death. In the shadowy world of ancient warfare, one weapon stood out as a true marvel: Greek fire. The household is usually an extended family consisting of both nuclear and polygynous units. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. They have been linked to the Mande subfamily but also to Gur. 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. You'll get a detailed solution from a subject matter expert that helps you learn core concepts. Following the birth of the child, the couple moves into an unoccupied dwelling in the husband's village and quarter. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. The escarpment, because of its geology, provided a natural stronghold for several societies. [15] These jihadic expeditions formed themselves to force the Dogon to abandon their traditional religious beliefs for Islam. I View the full answer Previous question Next question During the yincomoli ceremony, a gourd is smashed over the deceased's wooden bowl, hoe, and bundukamba (burial blanket). The Dogon are strongly oriented toward harmony, which is reflected in many of their rituals. After initiation, he wears a red cap, and a pearl bracelet. The clitoris is considered male, while the foreskin is considered female. [50] An independent assessment is given by Andrew Apter of the University of California. But after this generation, human beings were usually born single. "Mythes et organisation sociale au Soudan franais". Location. Women are forbidden from joining and prohibited from learning sigi so. Above the lineage is the much larger kin group called the clan, from which the various lineages emerge. 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. Corrections? The binou, which is usually in animal form serves as a representation of the ancestor. Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? Also effective as means of inducing conformity are ridicule and threats of supernatural sanction. Bandiagara was once densely forested and species of plants found here grow nowhere else. 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). We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. 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). Encyclopedia.com. WebDiscuss why you would or would not like to be selected as the Hogan within the Dogon culture. The Iraqi city of Erbil is truly magnificent - and in many ways. "[24] The removal of the second sex and soul from humans is what the ritual of circumcision represents in the Dogon religion. 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. 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