The Dogon population numbers between 400,000 and 800,000. They speak the Dogon languages, which are considered constituting an independent branch of the Niger-Congo language family, meaning that they’re not closely associated with the other languages.
The Dogon are best known for his or her religious traditions, their mask dances, wooden sculpture, and their architecture. Since the 20th century, there are significant changes within the social organization, material culture, and beliefs of the Dogon, partially because Dogon country is one in every of Mali’s major tourist attractions.
From oral tradition, the Dogon confirmed their affiliation with extraterrestrial bodies that visited earth some years ago. In keeping with them, ugly amphibious beings wi
thin the style of mermaids and mermen from the Sirius system called Nommos, visited earth. The Nommos lived on a planet that rotated around other stars within the Sirius system.
They’re renowned for his or her knowledge about the Sirius system which dates back to 3200 BC, long before scientists discovered it in 1862. The overwhelming majority of marriages are monogamous, but non-sororal polygynous marriages are allowed within the Dogon culture.
However, even in polygynous marriages, it’s rare for a person to own over two wives. in a very polygynous marriage, the wives live in separate houses within the husband
‘s compound. the primary wife, or ya biru, holds the next position within the family relative to any wives from later marriages.
Formally, wives join their husband’s households only after the birth of their first child. the choice of a wife is allotted by the man’s parents. Marriages are endogamous they limit the people to marry only persons within their clan and within their caste. The Dogon are strongly oriented toward harmony, which is reflected in many of their rituals. as an example, in one of their most vital rituals, the ladies praise the lads; the boys thank the ladies, the young express appreciation for the old, and also the old recognize the contributions of the young.
Another example is that the custom of elaborate greetings whenever one Dogon meets another. This practice is repeated over and over, throughout a Dogon village, all day.
