The Dogon country is located in the
eastern part of Mali, south of the
Niger, between the region of Mopti
and Burkina Faso. It is divided
geographically between a plateau
150 km long and 70 km wide and a
plain that extends to the southeast.
The Dogon fled to this site in the
11th century to preserve their
religious beliefs and to avoid
Islamization and they developed
one of the strongest cultures in the
region, with a very complex
cosmogony and mythology. Indeed
they happen to be quite famous for
their cosmogony and their
sculptures, which are very stylized.
Today, animists, Islamist animists
and Christianized animists share the
territory, without any of the Dogon
population having completely
abandoned animism.
The Dogons have a innate
propensity for harmony, which is
reflected in many of their rites and
daily objects, they mostly live on
agriculture, growing millet, corn and
peanuts.
This is a remarkable sculpture,
clearly demonstrating the inspiring
inventiveness and artistic skills of
the person who, seeing a simple
tree branch, would create such an
astonishing piece.
- (CB.2938)
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