Religion & the Tourist Trade | A Standing Female

As many "dege dal nda" (sculpture of the terrace) are made to be dressed for funerals, it is not unique that this object has holes in her ears for piercings. The geometric lines on her stomach, arm, chest, and back may also represent decorative scarification. Though female sculptures like this one have religious and spiritual value, the Dogon term "dege" or "sculpture" takes on many definitions throughout the piece's lifetime. As statues are cycled out of the Dogon's spiritual belief systems, they end up in storage. Here, they lose purpose and meaning. Eventually, they are sold to tourists with few negative drawbacks to the religion. 

Dogon/Mali Culture

ca. 19th/20th century

Wood, Carving

Gift of Martha and Robert Fogelman 

2008.2.127