Dogon Drumming and Masks

[the kid]

Funeral Ceremony

[James]

Sweet, hoping to meet some real Dogons in Mali in January

[glorplaxy]

I would like to go, but I hear Dogon Country is a bit of a tourist trap and that many of the Dogons have tasted tourist money and now want more. It looks interesting but I hate being hassled endlessly to buy something or pay for something just for being foreign. Supposedly it costs a pretty good chunk of money just to see them do a mask dance.

[Marc_M]

Can anyone point me to a map to find what areas have Dogon drumming and masks?

[bubudi]

the main area extends just out of mopti, around the bandagiarra cliffs and highlands, east through the seno-gondo plain into ouahigouya in the northwest of burkina faso. also further north in douentza and eastward, close again to the border with burkina.

this map shows the main area with reference to the two countries, the niger river and the main towns. note that not all the dogon villages are shown here.

map of dogon country showing main geographical features and main villages

Dogon Map.jpg (57.42 KiB) Viewed 278 times

this map is in more detail but does not quite cover the same amount of area. there are more dogon villages shown within the area covered (although a few from the other map are missed altogether).

detailed map of majority of dogon country with most villages shown

Dogon Map 2.jpg (91.48 KiB) Viewed 278 times

[Michel]

Glorplaxy,

For dances of all the peoples of Mali you only have to travel to Segou! I've been to the festival twice, and saw dances of Bozo (fishermen), Donso (hunters), Dogon mask dances, Sogoninkun, Khassonke, and so on.

[Marc_M]

Thanks Bubudi and Michel -

I'm hoping to go to Mali this summer - If roads are good and travel safe, I would like see the mask dance. Part of the arts curriculum in my class is looking at Dogon art, so it would be terrific to be able to share something that I have, as yet, only read about or seen on YouTube.

Cheers.