Dogon Dance Adornment
Origin: Mali
Approx Age: Mid – later 20th century
Materials: woven cloth, cowrie shells
Dimensions cm: 90 x 45 approximately
Ref. Number: M0541
Description:
An unusual styled Dogon dance adornment, a halter neck style, with the
These dance adornments are very hard to find and rarely come up for sale. Mask not included.
History
The Dogon form ceremonial dances to lead the homeless souls of the deceased to their final resting places in the world of spirit, where they become part of the ancestor realm. Within these ceremonies the Dogon people use a very large variety of different masks and accompany them with brightly coloured plant fibre arm bands and skirts and also different styles of a body adornment or vest made from cowrie shells sewn to a woven hard wearing cloth.
The Dogon celebrate and perform many dances for many different reasons, weddings, funerals, the first rains, the start of millet season. Music also plays a big part in the dances and celebrations .There are dances and music to commemorate the ancestors during funerals or dama two or three years after village elders die. It’s when masks come out to guide the souls of the dead outside the village and into the world of ancestors. The Dogon still practice an ancient dance tradition, called the Dama memorial, which marks the passing of village elders.
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