A Dogon hogon (spiritual leader) sits in an area carved within the 500m Bandiagara Escarpment in the heart of Dogon Country.

Dogon People
Excerpt from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Hogon is the spiritual leader of the village. He is elected between the oldest men of the enlarged families of the village. After his election he has to follow a six-month initiation period, during which he is not allowed to shave or wash. He wears white cloths and nobody is allowed to touch him. A young virgin that has not yet had her period takes care of him, cleans the house and prepares his meals. She returns to her home during the night. After his initiation, he will wear a red bonnet. He has an armband with a sacred pearl that symbolises his function. The virgin is replaced by one of his wives, but she also returns to her home at night. The Hogon has to live alone in his house. During the night, the sacred snake Lébé comes to clean him and to transfer wisdom.

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Keywords:
Dogon Country, Mali, anthropology, west africa, african art, tribes, tribe, ethnic groups, ethnic group, ethnicity, culture, cultural, cultures, religious leader, spiritual leader, hogon, animist religion, religions, sahel, bandiagara escarpment, dogon art, mopti, international development, underdeveloped country, underdeveloped, fine art photography, photographic art, photo, photos, picture, pictures

Ref: 1999_0013_Mali

Location: Dogon Country, Mali, West Africa

Photographer: Irene Abdou