Dogon Religion

A rich cosmology of the Bandiagara cliffs, known for mask dances and the Sigui festival.

c. 1400 CE → · Bandiagara, Mali · African & Diaspora

The Dogon settled the Bandiagara cliffs around the 15th century. Their religion centres on the creator Amma, the Nommo spirits and the ancestors, honoured in spectacular mask dances. The Sigui ceremony is held once every 60 years. Claims that they knew of Sirius B from ancient visitors come from contested 20th-century fieldwork.

Key figures

• Amma, the creator
• The Nommo, ancestral spirits
• The Hogon, spiritual leader

Texts

• Oral tradition
• Mask societies

Beliefs

• Amma created the world from a cosmic egg
• The Nommo brought order and speech
• Ancestors are honoured through masks

Rituals

• Dama mask dances for the dead
• The Sigui ceremony every 60 years
• Rites at family altars

Grew from

• Animism & Shamanism

Connections in the atlas

• Marcel Griaule
• The Tellem who flew to their caves
• Cliffs of Bandiagara (Dogon Country)
• ? Did the Dogon know about Sirius B?
• Conversations with Ogotemmêli
• Trans-Saharan gold and salt road
• Sacred dance and music (ritual)
• ▶ Teachers from the sky
• Teachers From the Sky or the Sea
• Animism & Shamanism
• 'Dogon Restudied': no Sirius B
• The Sigui of 1967