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The social organisation of the Dogon The Dogon population in the Bandiagara plateau, cliffs and the Seno plain is estimated at approximately 300.000 people (Gallais 1975: 95). The Dogon villages, approximately 700 in number, are markedly autarchic. Hardly any political structure exists beyond the village level. The bonds between villages are weak, resulting in strong cultural differences between them. These are reflected in material culture and ritual institutions, such as the presence or absence of mask traditions. The linguistic diversity in the Dogon country, with more than fifteen dialects, also mirrors these differences. Often Fulfulde, the language of the Fulani pastoralists, has to serve as the lingua franca, because the Dogon dialects are mutually unintelligible. Dogon is distinct from surrounding languages, although it has incorporated elements of languages of neighbouring populations. The spatial and social structure of Dogon villages is based on lineages, descent groups based on a common ancestor. The Dogon are patrilocal: children live with their fathers, women move to their husband's place of residence. A village usually is divided into quarters which are inhabited by one or more lineages, so-called patri-clans (Lane, in prep.). Age groups (social groups incorporating individuals of the same sex that are born within a three to seven year time span) are a further important characteristic of Dogon social structure. Social status and age are closely linked, with elders and their councils running village affairs. Every Dogon, male and female, has to undergo several initiation rites (rites de passage) in their lifetime, each of which takes the individual a step higher up the social ladder.[14] Circumcision is one of these initiation rites. The blacksmiths and leather workers form special groups in Dogon society.[15] They are endogamous groups: marriage with outsiders is not permitted and both groups are excluded from certain important Dogon customs. Generally, the smiths play a particular role in the villages as advisors and intermediaries in conflicts. They share this latter function with the hogon, the highest traditional religious leader of a village.[16] | |
