The Beliefs of the Dogon

Dogon spirituality is still prominent, though some villages throughout Mali and Burkina Faso have adopted Islam and Christianity. The Dogon believe in Animism, that all things have a spiritual essence, with much of their worship based on spirits and their ancestors. The stories surrounding these ancestors describe important events like the creation of the earth.

According to these stories, the creator god, Amma, impregnated the Earth. From this union, two sets of twins were born, known as the Nommo. Shortly after their birth, the pairs of twins transformed and became four sets of twins. These eight primordial beings of Nommo were placed in an ark then sent to Earth with everything needed to start humankind.

Ceremonies are held to relay these ancestral stories and to focus on themes like death or the agriculture cycle. To guide these sacred events, every large village or district has a Hogon. A Hogon is a spiritual leader whose behavior and appearance symbolize the Dogon story of creation. These powerful men are said to have saliva that brings humidity and whose bare feet can bring drought to the ground. The only person above a Hogon is the Supreme Hogon who oversees the entire country of Mali.