Dogon Culture & Art

“Mali (Republic of Mali) is an independent republic and is the largest country in West Africa. Mali is bordered on the north by Algeria, on the east and southeast by Niger, on the south by Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire, and on the west by Guinea, Senegal, and Mauritania. Bamako is the capital and also the largest city. In the south, by the Niger and Senegal rivers, are areas where peanuts, rice, and cotton are grown. Other areas of the country are arid desert or semi desert, and can barely support grazing (mainly cattle, sheep, and goats). The Niger River serves as an important transportation artery and a source of fish. About 90% of the population is Muslim; most of the remainder follows traditional religions. French is the official language, Bambara is spoken by 80% of the

population and there are many other African tongues.” ("Mali " 2000)

“Anthropologists have produced many ethnographic studies of African cultures that are based on fieldwork; however, popular ethnography is not unaffected, from Africa stereotypes. Overall, the Dogon have changed little over the centuries, but the culture is hardly monotonous. One Anthropologist, Katherine Dettwyler, describes her first medical anthropological fieldwork in Mali, in the book “Dancing Skeletons” She explains, "The 'real Africa,' the one I'd read about and studied in countless ethnographies, lay out there, beyond the influence of the capital city, beyond the influence of the West. Here it was, being offered on a platter. I tried to control my emotions and sound casual." (Paraphrased & edited; Keim 54)

Some topics in this essay:
Dogon Muslim, Art Dogon, Bandiagara Douentza, Africa' I'd, Niger River, African Nation, Niger Senegal, Frequently Dogon, Dogon” Paraphrased, Dogon” Peter, paraphrased edited, “the dogon, dogon culture, edited thomas/tilley 256, mud sun-dried brick, painted red, masks painted, edited 15, dogon masks, dogon art, black white, paraphrased edited thomas/tilley, red black white, red black, paraphrased edited peter,