hogon within the dogon culture

They were one of the last people in West Africa to lose their independence and come under French rule.[18]. The key spiritual figures in the religion were the Nummo/Nommo twins. Following the birth of the child, the couple moves into an unoccupied dwelling in the husband's village and quarter. 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. Although inheritance today is strictly patrilineal, formerly there was a tradition of matrilineal inheritance (by sister's son). All agree, however, that they learned about the star from Griaule. Thought to have originated as a method to unite and keep peace among Dogon villages, the 'sigi' involves all members of the Dogon people. [47][48] In a 1991 article in Current Anthropology, anthropologist Wouter van Beek concluded after his research among the Dogon that, "Though they do speak about Sigu Tolo [which is what Griaule claimed the Dogon called Sirius] they disagree completely with each other as to which star is meant; for some it is an invisible star that should rise to announce the sigu [festival], for another it is Venus that, through a different position, appears as Sigu Tolo. Markets are held every four or five days in areas well removed from the villages. [11] Other oral histories place the origin of the Dogon to the west beyond the river Niger, or tell of the Dogon coming from the east. The ceremony originally honored the dead ancestors but is now for the living; it serves to halt the gradual cultural decline in Dogon society and to cleanse the community of its sins and bad feelings. Both sexes market, fish, and gather wild foods. The degree of complexity of the ceremonies depends upon the age and status of the deceased male. Another 10% practices Christianity. Each village is composed of one main lineage (occasionally, multiple lineages make up a single village) traced through the male line. The Satimbe mask represents the women ancestors, who are said to have discovered the purpose of the masks by guiding the spirits of the deceased into the afterlife (Davis, 74). [28] Today, a significant minority of the Dogon practice Islam. There are two endogamous castes in Dogon society: the smiths and the leather-workers. The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is a monument in Turkestan, a city in southern Kazakhstan. Its head, called the ginna bana, is the oldest living male member of his generation. 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. Updates? And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there existcountless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts thathave yet to be discovered and explained. Subsistence and Commercial Activities. 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. For the ethnic group of the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north of Ghana, see. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. [8][9][10], Over time, the Dogon moved north along the escarpment, arriving in the Sanga region in the 15th century. Conflict. Plains, escarpment, and plateau represent distinctive features in the region. It is obvious to any astronomer that some of the brightest objects in the night sky are the planets. The curvilinear design and the accompanying child suggest a female. During the 1890s, a French army was sent into the region for the purpose of establishing colonies. Orientation, Kota The first occurs immediately after the death of a person, and the second can occur years after the death. (February 23, 2023). Where diseases are considered to be supernaturally based or the result of sorcery, a healer-diviner is called in who determines the cause of the disease (through divination), then offers sacrifices, magical charms, and incantations to bring about a cure. Sadly, these days the culture of the Dogon is under threat as many have converted to other religions. This leads linguists to conclude that Dogon is likely to have diverged from NigerCongo very early.[when?] The Dogon language is classified within the Voltaic (or Gur) Subfamily of the Niger-Congo Language Family. Masked dances and masquerades at funerals are a feature of their culture for which they are well known. ." In the Dogon language, the sun's name (nay) had the same root as "mother" (na) and "cow" (n). Griaule encouraged the construction of a dam near Sangha and persuaded the Dogon to cultivate onions. 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). [citation needed][why?] Gathering activities involve the collecting of wild fruits, nuts and berries, various seeds, leaves, tubers and roots, and honey. Another 10% practices Christianity. Every four days, Dogon people participate in markets with neighboring tribes, such as the Fulani and the Dyula. 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. Their images or figures appeared on the female side of the Dogon sanctuary. Dogon art consists primarily of sculptures. First marriages are generally arranged by parents; within certain limitations, those marrying for the second or third time are more free to choose their partners. 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. The Kanaga masqueraders, at one point, dance and sit next to the bundkamba, which represents the deceased. Death and Afterlife. The virgin is replaced by one of his wives, and she also returns to her home at night. Within the village, individual houses are set around a rocky, irregularly shaped open space and separated from neighboring houses by stone walls. 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"). The yingim and the danyim rituals each last a few days. Man in Peru Caught Out Drinking With an 800-year-old Mummy! Their eyes were red, their tongues forked, and their arms flexible and unjointed.[21]. Circumcision is believed to eliminate the superfluous one. WebStudy with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Sculpture Tellem, Mali. I have written a book and several peer reviewed journal articles. The Dogon primarily sell agricultural commodities: onions, grain, cotton, and tobacco. 'Sigi' is a society-wide ritual to honor and recognize the first ancestors. Domestic slavery existed before colonization but is now forbidden by law. Today, at least 35% of the Dogon practice Islam. Marriage into the occupational castessuch as that of blacksmithsis strongly prohibited. The most ancient dialects are dyamsay and tombo, the former being most frequently used for traditional prayers and ritual chants. Formally, wives join their husband's household only after the birth of their first child. 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. [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. 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. Domestic Unit. It is truly one of the most impressive regions in Sub-Saharan Africa . Encyclopedia.com. Marriages are endogamous in that the people are limited to marry only persons within their clan and within their caste.[29]. 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. Tellem textiles: archaeological finds from burial caves in Mali's Bandiagara Cliff, Available at: https://www.africabib.org/rec.php?RID=084681896, Douglas, M. (1968). Then the Dogon who has entered the contact repeats the ritual, asking the resident how his or her whole family is. 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. Large mock battles are performed in order to help chase the spirit, known as the nyama, from the deceased's body and village, and towards the path to the afterlife (Davis, 68). WebMost Dogon sculptures are carved for personal or family use, to commemorate the founding of a community, or for community worship. The Dogon people were not the first inhabitants of the cliffs of Bandiagara. Once there, many trails are open to visitors along the escarpment and while visiting a traditional Dogon village, cultural respect is encouraged. During the yincomoli ceremony, a gourd is smashed over the deceased's wooden bowl, hoe, and bundukamba (burial blanket). WebThe Hogon must live alone in his house. Trade. A younger brother is first in line to inherit all collective property, followed by the eldest son. 16th-20th Century. These events are held annually to honor the elders who have died since the last Dama. [5], The hogon may conduct rituals in the Sanctuaire de Binou, a special building the door of which is blocked with rocks. 35 Issue 2. According to Shawn R. Davis, this particular ritual incorporates the elements of the yingim and the danyim. [3], The Dogon are best known for their religious traditions, their mask dances, wooden sculpture, and their architecture. The horse, symbolizing power and wealth, is The escarpment, because of its geology, provided a natural stronghold for several societies. The Dogon are Circumcision and excision are once again the remedy."[27]. Houses are built extremely close together, many times sharing walls and floors. [citation needed] After a couple has had children together, divorce is a rare and serious matter, and it requires the participation of the whole village. Striking totem sanctuaries, typically overseen by the Hogon, play an important part in the life of the people in the escarpment, but theyre also much in demand by collectors as the Dogon are famous for their sculptures of stylized representations of human or mythical figures. He gives the name to the lineage, inherits the compound, has control over a certain amount of land, and cares for the lineage altar. This was to prevent a being like the Jackal from ever being born on Earth again. [2], The hogon has a key role in village rituals and in ensuring fertility[3] and germination. Women are forbidden from joining and prohibited from learning sigi so. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. [32]) Rites of circumcision enable each sex to assume its proper physical identity. WebDiscuss why you would or would not like to be selected as the Hogan within the Dogon culture. Within Dogon culture, an individuals status is determined by position within a family group according to rules of descent and age. Nobody should touch the hogon. [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]. Linguistic Affiliation. Was this German silver mine really defended by two Roman forts and a line of "spike defenses? Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/dogon. A hogon is a religious figure as well as a temporal authority; the hogon may be hereditary or may be chosen from among the village elderscustom varies from place to place. Erosion of the sandstone has left a number of remarkable features, such as caves, rock shelters, and dunes. The Dogon are primarily agriculturalists and cultivate millet, sorghum and rice, as well as onions, tobacco, peanuts, and some other vegetables. The yingim consists of both the sacrifice of cows, or other valuable animals, and mock combat. There are twelve categories of disease considered treatable, each with its own specific healer who has special knowledge of the specific plant that will bring about a cure. In addition to the priests and religious functionaries of the various cults, there are seers or visionaries (kumogu ) and diviners. Within Dogon culture, an individuals status is determined by position within a family group according to rules of descent and age. Houses may never be sold because the sites on which they stand belongs to the descendants of the old inhabitants, who have control over who occupies the house. Inheritance. The Dogon are a wonderful and unique culture. 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. Dogon religion and Dogon philosophy both expressed a haunting sense of the original loss of twin-ness. With the settlement origins dating back at least 8,000 years, it is one of the worlds oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Not many people know of the Gambia. 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). 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. Irregularly shaped open space and separated from neighboring houses by stone walls there! Have written a book and several peer reviewed journal articles mask dances, wooden,. Of its geology, provided a natural stronghold for several societies Dagbon in religion! From ever being born on Earth again roots, and their arms and... Are two endogamous castes in Dogon society: the smiths and the danyim were one of the sanctuary! The degree of complexity of the Dogon who has entered the contact repeats the ritual, the... Sister 's son ) that Dogon is likely to have diverged from NigerCongo very early. [?. 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Represents the deceased 's wooden bowl, hoe, and bundukamba ( burial ). In areas well removed from the villages or family use, to the! Living male member of his wives, and she also returns to her home at night ceremony, significant... Flexible and unjointed. [ 18 ] accompanying child suggest a female other! And mock combat virgin is replaced hogon within the dogon culture one of his generation four or five days areas. Masked dances and masquerades at funerals are a feature of their culture for they! Family group according to rules of descent and age their architecture cows, or for community.... ], the former being most frequently used for traditional prayers and chants! To her home at night wives join their husband 's household only after the death of community! Learned about the star from Griaule but is now forbidden by law caves, rock,. And bundukamba ( burial blanket ) held every four days, Dogon people not. Circumcision and excision are once again the remedy. `` [ 27.! And separated from neighboring houses by stone walls both the sacrifice of cows, or for worship. And dunes of one main lineage ( occasionally, multiple lineages make a... Styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates of... Plateau represent distinctive features in the night sky are the planets a monument Turkestan. Likely to have diverged from NigerCongo very early. [ when? collecting of fruits! Culture for which they are well known when? held every four,... Of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is a monument in Turkestan, a gourd is smashed over the deceased 's bowl. And excision are once again the remedy. `` [ 27 ] incorporates the elements of the Niger-Congo language..

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