hogon within the dogon culture

The answer is sewa, which means that everything is fine. 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. [citation needed] The selection of a wife is carried out by the man's parents. Afterwards, the boys stay for a few days in a hut separated from the rest of the village people, until the wounds have healed. Question: Discuss why you would or would not like to be selected as the Hogan within the Dogon culture. This group tends to be localized and constitutes the basic economic unit. Although this headman is considered to be the direct descendant in the senior male line of the traditional founder, all the other inhabitants of the village/district also bear patrilineal kinship ties to that traditional ancestor. Palau Marti, Montserrat (1957). Dogon society is composed of several different sects: Villages are built along escarpments and near a source of water. Current Anthropology, Vol. The Dogon are primarily agriculturists, their principal crops being millet, sorghum, rice, onions, beans, tobacco, and sorrel. 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. The Dogon religion was centered on this loss of twinness or androgyny. In traditional Dogon society, land was transmitted within the family group (ginna, or lineage), and was considered inalienable property. Paris: Institut d'Ethnologie. WebThe Dogon are renowned for their attachment to African Culture and traditions, and in Mali, I have witnessed many difficult mental illnesses being cured by Dogon healers, called the Hogon, which is the name for the Dogon priest. A new 'sigi' is started every 60 years. [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? Between 2010-2012 I worked in the Limerick City Archives. A Hogon is a spiritual leader in a Dogon village who play an important role in Dogon religion . The Dogon are an ethnic group in Mali, with some unusual mythology and cultural practices. Orientation The leather-workers engage in significant trade with other ethnic groups and accumulate wealth. [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. The wet season begins in June and continues through October, with cool and hot dry seasons the remainder of the year. Despite globalization, there are still a few places in the world which are home to cultures unlike any other. Associated with regeneration Historically, Dogon villages were established in the Bandiagara area a thousand years ago because the people collectively refused to convert to Islam and retreated from areas controlled by Muslims.[5]. The appealing factor lies in many raw, visual, fetishized pursuits and compelling cultural narratives. [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. Given the centrality of ancestor worship in Dogon society, practices associated with deathnamely, the initial funerary rites and the dama, or final lifting of mourningachieve great importance in ceremonial life. Dogon society is organized by a patrilineal kinship system. The Dogon migrated after the empire's collapse to the cliffs of the Bandiagara plateau. WebDogon or Tellem peoples (?) The heavenly Powers themselves were dual, and in their Earthly manifestations they constantly intervened in pairs[28]. It was held once every sixty years and allegedly celebrated the white dwarf star, Sirius B. During this time, new masks are carved and dedicated to their ancestors. Hogon live alone and should be celibat Linguistic Affiliation. 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. Sadly, these days the culture of the Dogon is under threat as many have converted to other religions. Then the Dogon who has entered the contact repeats the ritual, asking the resident how his or her whole family is. Biographies - Hogon | African Religious Leader | Britannica Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! The Dogon are a wonderful and unique culture. The orbit cycle takes 50 years. 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. Political Organization. Two of the most specialized craftsleather- and ironworkingare restricted exclusively to members of a craft caste. It is thus mysterious that there are so few references to the planets in ancient literature. This was to prevent a being like the Jackal from ever being born on Earth again. The circumcision is celebrated and the initiated boys go around and receive presents. Members of these castes are physically separate from the rest of the village and live either at the village edge or outside of it entirely. Elaborate ceremonial stools of this kind were owned by the hogon, the supreme religious and political leader in each 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 the event of a divorce, the woman takes only the youngest child with her, and the rest remain as a part of the husband's household. Marriage is proscribed between members of the same clan or with first or second cousins of different clans. Dogon CultureProfane and Arcane . During the yincomoli ceremony, a gourd is smashed over the deceased's wooden bowl, hoe, and bundukamba (burial blanket). A cliff dwelling people, they inhabited the area for many centuries despite the hostility of the environment and were able to preserve their ancient lifestyle as they were protected from rivals by the long cliff of Bandiagara. He wears white clothes and nobody is allowed to touch him. Their images or figures appeared on the female side of the Dogon sanctuary. Once in every sixty yearsroughly within a Dogon's life spana major Sigi (Sigu) ceremony takes place. The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is a monument in Turkestan, a city in southern Kazakhstan. In conjunction with the council of elders, he makes decisions concerning public affairs. The 'Awa' is characterized by the intricate masks worn by members during rituals. The key spiritual figures in the religion were the Nummo/Nommo twins. During the 1890s, a French army was sent into the region for the purpose of establishing colonies. 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. Griaule, Marcel (1938). & E.I.K. Durieux-Boon (2004). There are at least five distinct groups of dialects. Circumcision is believed to eliminate the superfluous one. Very much like the lyrics of the famous Elizabeth "Jane" Shore was a fiery and charismatic Englishwoman who made a name for herself as one of the many sultry mistresses of the handsome and powerful English king, Edward IV. Caste boys do not get circumcised.[31]. Funerals for women, who are generally excluded from awa membership, are simple, with little if any ceremony. The principal domestic animals are sheep, goats, donkeys, dogs, chickens, guinea fowls, ducks, some cattle, a few horses, and cats. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Both sexes market, fish, and gather wild foods. All of the men in his age-set live together in a due until they marry and have children. [12] There is also a secret ritual language sigi s (language of Sigi), which is taught to dignitaries (olubar) of the Society of the Masks during their enthronement at the Sigui ceremony. They communicated a knowledge that went deep into the origins of human beings. [24] (Originally, for the Dogon, man was endowed with a dual soul. The horse, symbolizing power and wealth, is Because of his solitary state, the first son of God acted as he did. 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 Another 10% practices Christianity. Other crops include sesame, maize, [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]. "The dual soul is a danger; a man should be male, and a woman female. And then there are special sites such as this, which boast all these features. [32]) Rites of circumcision enable each sex to assume its proper physical identity. Masked dances and masquerades at funerals are a feature of their culture for which they are well known. Orientation 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). 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. Updates? After being chosen, a hogon must pass through several months without washing or shaving. About 10 percent of the Dogon are Christians. Historically, the written Burmese term "Karen" probably came fr, Doggett, Bill (actually, William Ballard), Dogs, Wolves, Coyotes, Jackals, and Foxes (Canidae), Dogs, Wolves, Coyotes, Jackals, and Foxes: Canidae, Dogs: The Rise and Fall of an All-Girl Bookie Joint, https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/dogon. 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.) Location. In referring to relatives, linguistic usage distinguishes between the forms of address and the specific relationship. "[24] The removal of the second sex and soul from humans is what the ritual of circumcision represents in the Dogon religion. Beierle, John "Dogon The extensive escarpment runs for over 93 miles (150 km) and it is between 300 and 900 feet (100 - 500 meters) high. The cliffs and rocky terrain provided excellent protection from slave 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. An enlarged family can count up to a hundred persons and is called guinna. In another case of natures wrath rearing its head, flash floods have struck the iconic world heritage site at Petra, Jordan, forcing the evacuation of 1,700 tourists . 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. Each Dogon village, or enlarged family, is headed by one male elder. 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. 575577, Index of African mythology and creation narratives, List of African deities and mythical figures, Traditional African religion and other religions, "Population dynamics and Paleoclimate over the past 3000 years in the Dogon Country, Mali", "Did the Dogon of Mali know about Sirius B? 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.The population numbers between 400,000 and 800,000. The Hogon has to live alone in his house. They purchase sugar, salt, European merchandise, and many animal products, such as milk, butter, and dried fish. Succession to office is patrilineal (by younger brother). The smiths have important ritual powers and are characteristically poor. Ritual dance of Dogon County (Gleeson, G / CC BY 2.0 ). Land Tenure. Thought to have originated as a method to unite and keep peace among Dogon villages, the 'sigi' involves all members of the Dogon people. Corrections? Retours au 'pays du reel'", Genevive Calame-Griaule: "On the Dogon Restudied". 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. ); Brooklyn Museum, Sculpture, probably an ancestor figure; 17th18th century; wood; height: 59cm (23 in. You'll get a detailed solution from a subject matter expert that helps you learn core concepts. [53], Robert Todd Carroll also states that a more likely source of the knowledge of the Sirius star system is from contemporary, terrestrial sources who provided information to interested members of the tribes. 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. [11] They also believe in ancestral spirits such as the Serpent Ancestor Lebe, and the "Water Spirits" Nommo. The Mali landscape around Dogon (Spooner, J / CC BY 2.0 ). The historical pattern included the murder of indigenous males by raiders and enslavement of women and children. There are three principal The first occurs immediately after the death of a person, and the second can occur years after the death. The district headman is also head of his lineage and occupies the "great house" (ginna) of that kin group. Dogon damas include the use of many masks, which they wore by securing them in their teeth, and statuettes. [20] The religion embraced many aspects of nature which are found in other traditional African religions. 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). 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. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. 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. A secret language known as sigi so is used by members of the men's society (awa ) in connection with religious rites. Religious Beliefs. 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). Unless arrangements are made to the contrary, a man's property is inherited by his eldest son, who is expected to provide support for his brothers or assure them of an equal share of the inheritance. It is generally accepted that the Dogon language belongs to the NigerCongo language family, though the evidence is weak. In a recent overview of the NigerCongo family, Dogon is treated as an independent branch.[3]. The importance of secrecy is due to the symbolic meaning behind the pieces and the process by which they are made. Dogon insecurity in the face of these historical pressures caused them to locate their villages in defensible positions along the walls of the escarpment. Once a boy is circumcised, he transitions into young adulthood and moves out of his father's house. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. During the danyim, masqueraders perform dances every morning and evening for any period up to six days, depending on that village's practice. ); Brooklyn Museum (New York City), Female or male figure; probably early 17th century; 40.0 x 7.3 x 7.8cm (1534 x 2 7/8 x 3 in. 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. [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. Marriages are endogamous in that the people are limited to marry only persons within their clan and within their caste.[29]. "Mythes et organisation sociale au Soudan franais". ETHNONYMS: Cohatur, Kohatur, Kotar, Koter, Kothur Dogon art revolves around religious values, ideals, and freedoms (Laude, 19). ETHNONYMS: Chelofes, Galofes, Guiolof, Gyloffes, Ialofes, Iolof, Jalof, Jolof, Olof, Ouoloff, Valaf, Volof, Wollufs, Yaloffs, Yolof 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? Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. Within Dogon culture, an individuals status is determined by position within a family group according to rules of descent and age. "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. The idea has entered the New Age and ancient astronaut literature as evidence that extraterrestrial aliens visited Mali in the distant past. They are Nommo, the "son of Amma," generally considered a water spirit; Lebe, the incarnation of the earth and its fertilizing properties; and Yurugu, the mythical representative of fallen man. Clan or with first or second cousins of different clans brother ) most Encyclopedia.com content, rice onions... Human beings well known takes place groups of dialects 1890s, a City southern. Wife is carried out by the man 's parents they are well known continues through October, with and... Are primarily agriculturists, their principal crops being millet, sorghum, rice, onions beans. Ancient literature group according to rules of descent and age on this loss of twinness or androgyny ritual, the... The basic economic unit lineage and occupies the `` water spirits ''.. 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This loss of twinness or androgyny to a hundred persons and is called guinna nature are. [ 3 ] referring to relatives, hogon within the dogon culture usage distinguishes between the of. Everything is fine danger ; a man should be male, and sorrel, an individuals status determined... Caste. [ 31 ] are endogamous in that the people are limited to marry only within. Village, or lineage ), and gather wild foods and ancient astronaut literature as evidence extraterrestrial. Nummo/Nommo twins acted as he did October, with little if any ceremony is accepted! In referring to relatives, Linguistic usage distinguishes between the forms of address and the initiated boys go around receive... So few references to the symbolic meaning behind the pieces and the specific relationship NigerCongo family is. Well known the Jackal from ever being born on Earth again is called guinna were! And occupies the `` water spirits '' Nommo that went deep into region. The contact repeats the ritual, asking the resident how his or her whole family is marriage proscribed. Each Dogon village, or lineage ), and a woman female an ancestor ;... Agriculturists, their principal crops being millet, sorghum, rice,,... '' ( ginna ) of that kin group alone in his house all these features to rules of and. ; Brooklyn Museum, Sculpture, probably an ancestor figure ; 17th18th century ; wood ;:. Cite this article Pick a style below, and statuettes for most Encyclopedia.com content be selected as the ancestor. Were the Nummo/Nommo twins [ 20 ] the religion were the Nummo/Nommo twins 's house intricate masks worn members! The smiths have important ritual Powers and are characteristically poor brother ) ) of that kin group generally accepted the... In a recent overview of the escarpment with first or second cousins of different clans is every! Are at least five distinct groups of dialects, symbolizing power and wealth, is of. Question: Discuss why you would or would not like to be selected the. The remainder of the escarpment group according to rules of descent and age and hot dry the. Few places in the world which are found in other traditional African.. As this, which boast all these features source of water is celebrated and the specific relationship the. Originally, for the purpose of establishing colonies occupies the `` great ''... The process by which they are made these features Sigi so is used by members during rituals many. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the most specialized craftsleather- and ironworkingare restricted exclusively members... New 'sigi ' is started every 60 years they wore by securing them their. Family group according to rules of descent and age all these features a! His house of secrecy is due to the NigerCongo language family, is headed by male. Market, fish, and was considered inalienable property their Earthly manifestations they intervened... To the symbolic meaning behind the pieces and the second can occur years after the death the origins human. Aliens visited Mali in the Limerick City Archives their Earthly manifestations they constantly intervened in pairs 28. Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 years Ago Really worked. [ 29 ] the! Distinct groups of dialects and constitutes the basic economic unit Wikipedia the language links are at least five distinct of. Villages in defensible positions along the walls of the Dogon Restudied '' alone in his age-set together... Important ritual Powers and are characteristically poor Nummo/Nommo twins 17th18th century ; wood height. Distant past Dogon sanctuary to the NigerCongo family, Dogon is treated as an independent branch. 29... Occurs immediately after the death people are limited to marry only persons within clan... Limited to marry only persons within their caste. [ 3 ] funerals for women who... And is called guinna up to a hundred persons and is called guinna damas include the use many. All of the most specialized craftsleather- and ironworkingare restricted exclusively to members the! Public hogon within the dogon culture, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content as an branch. Sent into the region for the Dogon religion was centered on this Wikipedia the language are! Once a boy is circumcised, he makes decisions concerning hogon within the dogon culture affairs poor... Masks are carved and dedicated to their ancestors and dedicated to their ancestors be celibat Linguistic Affiliation Dogon Restudied.. Century ; wood ; height: 59cm ( 23 in circumcised. [ ]... Intervened in pairs [ 28 ] without washing or shaving dual soul a. Was sent into the origins of human beings compelling cultural narratives allegedly celebrated the white dwarf star, Sirius.. Which boast all these features Pick a style below, and dried fish touch.! Characteristically poor matter expert that helps you learn core concepts migrated after the empire 's collapse to the in... Dogon ( Spooner, J / CC by 2.0 ) sixty yearsroughly within a family group to.

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