Dogon MaskDogon Mask

Map & EnvironmentMap & Environment

• The Dogon people live along the Bandiagara escarpment, a 200- kilometer cliff face in Mali. The reason they live in this relatively inaccessible and difficult environment was to defend themselves against other more and powerful groups that entered their territory, and tried to take their people into slavery. These hardships can be seen in many of the pieces produced by Dogon artists.

Materials and Description.Materials and Description.

But What Does That Mean?But What Does That Mean?• All African masks take certain forms, whether

human (man/woman), animal or composite. In looking at this mask the viewer can strongly agree that it resembles the form of a human head. This can be seen in its shape, and its design. In my opinion the mask looks as if it depicts a woman’s head with its somewhat smooth and clean design, as well as the long locks that are hanging from the top of the mask and flow far past the bottom of it. The form and identity of the mask can also be a great hint as to what the masks use is.

Culture.Culture.• Cultural Identification: This mask

is an African mask coming from the Dogon tribes of Mali. The mask itself does not represent the Dogon people, but is a representation of another tribe instead, the Fulani.

• The reason the Dogon use this mask is to mock the Fulani woman. The Dogon and the Fulani are enemies, due to them inhabiting a vast amount of the Dogon land, and them forcing the Dogon people out of their own.

Uses and IdeasUses and Ideas

• The immense beauty of the Fulani woman is widely known through out West Africa but is the subject of mockery behind this mask.

• It is used by male Dogon masqueraders during funerary activities.

Atypical for a DogonAtypical for a Dogon

PicturesPictures

BibliographyBibliography• Dogon Dama. <http://www.incredible@rtdepartment>.

• Hollyman, Stephenie, and Walter E. VanBeek. Dogon : Africa's People of the Cliffs. Danbury: Harry N. Abrams , Incorporated, 2001.

• Rebirth African life on the continent. 2000. <http://www.rebirth.co.za/dogon/mask_history.htm>.

• RoyWashington. National Museum of African Art. African Art in the Cycle of Life. [By] Roy Sieber and Roslyn Adele Walker. Sept. 1987-March 1988

• Finley, Carol. The Art of African Masks : Exploring Cultural Traditions. New York: Lerner Group, 1998. 7-62.