What is Dogon cosmology?

The Dogon people of Mali, West Africa, are famous for their unique art and advanced cosmology. The Dogon’s creation story describes how the one true god, Amma, created all the matter of the universe. The Dogon’s creation story describes how the one true god, Amma, created all the matter of the universe.

Where do the Dogon originally come from?

The ancestors of the Dogon came from Mande, an area in southwest Mali and northeast Guinea that was home to the thirteenth-century Mali empire. The Dogon migrated after the empire’s collapse to the cliffs of the Bandiagara plateau.

What are Dogon houses made of?

Earth buildings are common in Dogon Country, but the main construction material in Dogon Country is stone, especially on the plateau. Building with stones is more expensive than building with earth, but clay is hard to find in the rocky landscape and stone houses last longer.

What is the Dogon tribe known for?

The Dogon are best known for their religious traditions, their mask dances, wooden sculpture, and their architecture.

What are Dogon spirits called?

Nommo
The Nommo or Nummo are primordial ancestral spirits in Dogon religion and cosmogony (sometimes referred to as demi deities) venerated by the Dogon people of Mali. The word Nommos is derived from a Dogon word meaning “to make one drink.” Nommos are usually described as amphibious, hermaphroditic, fish-like creatures.

How old is the Dogon religion?

Early history is informed by oral traditions, which claim that the Dogon originated from the west bank of the Niger River (10th to 13th centuries). They emigrated west to northern Burkina Faso, where local histories describe them as kibsi.

Do Dogon people still exist?

Today, Dogon country is one of Mali’s major tourist attractions. As a result, the past century has seen significant changes in the social organization and material culture of the Dogon. Once an animist culture, the Dogon fled to this area more than 500 years ago to escape persecution by Muslim Fulani.

What has been the historical religion of the Dogon?

The general ceremony rests on the belief that some 3,000 years ago amphibious beings from Sirius visited the Dogon. Fewer than half the Dogon are Muslim, and fewer still are Christian. Most practice traditional religion.

How old is the Dogon culture?

What religion are the Dogon tribe?

Fewer than half the Dogon are Muslim, and fewer still are Christian. Most practice traditional religion.

What animal do the Dogon herd?

Pastoralism is a subsistence strategy dependent on the herding of animals, particularly sheep, goats and cattle, although there are pastoralists who herd reindeer, horses, yak, camel, and llamas.

Is dugong a manatee?

Dugongs (Dugong dugong) are closely related to manatees and are the fourth species under the order sirenia. Unlike manatees, dugongs have a fluked tail, similar to a whale’s, and a large snout with an upper lip that protrudes over their mouth and bristles instead of whiskers.

Where did the Dogon people build their houses?

Dogon Country in Mali is full of rich traditions and heritage, not least in natural building techniques. When the Dogon people first arrived to the cliff of Bandiagara in the 15th century, they found the Tellem people already living in the area. The Tellem built their houses on the face of the cliff around natural caves.

Where did the Dogon tribe live in Mali?

The Dogon are a tribe that lives in a desert land of Mali, near the border with Burkina Faso. It is a place that welcomed them after their escape to avoid the expansionist pressures of the medieval empires…we are around the year 1000, during the fierce battles on the banks of the Niger river.

Which is the most famous cliff in Dogon country?

In Dogon Country the cliff of Bandiagara hides villages full of rich traditions, not least in vernacular architecture. Thanks to its cultural significance and natural beauty, the cliff of Bandiagara has also been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

How did the Dogon adapted to their environment?

The architecture of the Dogon land has been adapted to benefit from the physical constraints of the place. Whether on the high plateau, the cliff-faces, or on the plain, the Dogon have exploited all the elements available to build their villages that reflect their ingenuity and their philosophy of life and death.