Yendouma A Dogon Village
Patrice Olivier Association
Terra Incognita
Summary A small page of history and geography
Hamadou Témé’s family
Page 10
Page 20
The Dogons
Ramata, Abiba and Oumou
Page 12
Page 22
Yendouma
Women and business
Page 14
Page 24
The plateau
Yendouma market
Page 16
Page 26
The toguna
The rhythm of the seasons
Page 18
Page 28 5
Summary The girl’s jobs
Dogon ladders
Page 30
Page 40
The boy’s jobs
Millet granaries
Page 32
Page 42
Water
Millet
Page 34
Page 44
Wood
Zebus and goatss
Page 36
Page 46
The houses
Onions
Page 38
Page 48 6
Summary Animism
In the classroom
Page 50
Page 60
Sculpture
The lack of financial support
Page 52
Page 62
The fennec fox divining table
Girl’s games
Page 54
Page 64
Religion
Boy’s games
Page 56
Page 66
School
The game of awalé
Page 58
Page 68 7
Summary The blacksmith
Dusk in Yendouma
Page 70
Page 79
Acknowledgements The weaver Page 80 Page 72
Glossary Cooking Page 81 Page 74
The Republic of Mali Boiled millet and millet cake Page 82 Page 76
Meals
Page 78 8
The bush and the rocky peak called “the 3 Yougas�, opposite Yendouma village : the rocky peak shelters 3 villages: Youga-Piri, Youga-Dogorou and Youga-Nah. According to the legend, the first mask was introduced to the Dogons at Youga-Dogorou.
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A small page of history and geography
B
andiagara is the capital of Dogon. It is situated 75 km east of Mopti. This area is in the Sahelian zone* and consists of three natural environments : the plateau, the sandstone cliffs and the lower plains. Dogon life revolves around the 200 km long cliffs. It takes over two hours of chaotic and steep paths to go from Bandiagara to Yendouma. For a long time, the Dogons kept their independence because of the difficult access to this isolated and mountainous territory. In the 1940’s, the Dogon population became one of the most well known in Africa because of the French ethnologist * Marcel Griaule. His research and findings about the Dogon culture, both surprised and inspired European imaginations.
Summary
10
From the top left hand corner : Bérénice, Juliette, Daouda, Nouhoum, Yadomé, Néma, Soumaïa and Michel. 19
Hamadou Témé’s family
U
sually a family name corresponds to a village. The inhabitants all descend from the same ancestors ; for example the Doumba family originated from Trois Youga and the Témé family from Yendouma. Hamadou and Yassama Témé are farmers and stock breeders. At present, Hamadou is ill and he is confined to his house. Their children, Soumaïla, Néma and Yadomé are aged 16, 18 and 19 years old. Their eldest child Moïse is married to Bérénice and they have two children : Michel and Juliette. Hamadou looks after his brother Hamidou’s children who he works on the Ivory Coast : Nouhoum, 9 years old, Dramane, 13 years old and Daouda, 17 years old.
Yassama Témé.
Summary
20
In the morning, before going to school, Kadia, Oumou and Abiba fetch water. They carry the buckets along this bumpy path with ease. 33
Water
I
n Yendouma, there is no running water. At dawn, the women and the girls fetch the first supply of daily water. For this twenty strong family, a considerable amount of water is needed. Several daily trips are necessary. The laundry is done on a rock near a well in order to avoid carrying the laundry water to the house. The young girls do these chores daily. Even below school age, they help by carrying small buckets of water on their heads.
Oumou and Abiba pump water from one of the three wells in the village. The wells, situated at the foot of the cliffs, are important meeting places for the women.
Summary
34
Michel, Juliette and Berenice in the small living room. To go into Hamadou's yard, you need to go through this room. 37
The houses
Y
oundouma village was built in the rock slide from the cliffs. The houses are built from clay and on stilts. They are coated with rammed clay made from a mixture of clay and straw. Hamadou and Yassamama’s house (their children call it “the big family’s house”) is situated in the centre of the cliff. Access is via a maze of tracks which wind round other houses. Today the children and grandchildren live in the inn as it is bigger and more comfortable.
This path leads to Hamadou’s house.
Summary
38
Nouhoum is in class level 3.
59
In the classroom
T
he first year of teaching is done in the Dogon language. In the second year French is introduced orally. Afterwards lessons are given in Dogon and in French. The children rarely speak French outside of school. This learning method calls for a capacity to adapt. Like the other subjects, Dogon is also taught. Several dialects exist, a Dogon from north of the cliffs does not necessarily understand a Dogon from the south. In order to preserve their culture and to simplify the teaching of this language, a joint dictionary has been created. The longest school holidays take place in the winter season, from the 1st July until the end of September.
Nouhoum reads a text written in Dogon.
Summary
60
Abiba and Oumou dance to the rhythmic percussion with their friends. These dances are generally improvised and spontaneous. 63
Girl’s games
I
n Yendouma, the children live outdoors. After school and after their chores, the young girls find a shady place near to their house. Group games, card games, song and dance are their main hobbies.
Oumou and Ramata play 151, a very popular card game in Mali. The hands are intense and animated.
Summary
64
Glossary Animism : The belief that natural objects, natural phenomena, and the universe itself possess souls. Castes : An endogenous and hereditary social group limited to persons of the same rank, occupation, economic position, etc., and having mores distinguishing it from other such groups. Circumcision ceremony : Spiritual purification of a boy becoming a man. Dialect : A provincial, rural, or socially distinct variety of a language that differs from the standard language. Ethnology : A branch of anthropology that analyzes cultures, esp. in regard to their historical development and the similarities and dissimilarities between them. Ethnic : Characteristic of a people, esp. a group (ethnic group) sharing a common and distinctive culture, religion, language, or the like. Funeral : The ceremonies for a dead person prior to burial or cremation; obsequies. Hoe : A long-handled implement having a thin, flat blade usually set transversely, used to break up the surface of the ground, destroy weeds, etc. Mythology : A set of stories, traditions, or beliefs associated with a particular group or the history of an event, arising naturally or deliberately fostered. Palabres : Endless discussions. Polygamy : The practice or condition of having more than one spouse, esp. wife, at one time. Sahelian zone : The area between two territories which signifies the border between the Sahara and the savanna deserts. Shea butter : A solid, greenish, yellowish, or whitish fat derived from the seeds of the shea tree, used for food and in the manufacture of soaps and candles. Touchwood : Wood converted into an easily ignitable substance by the action of certain fungi, and used as tinder. Tinder: small pieces of something dry that burns easily and which can be used for lighting fires. Trekking : To journey on foot, especially to hike through mountainous areas. Previous page
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Yendouma A Dogon village
Association Terra Incognita Patrice Olivier wants to share his time spent with Hamadou’s and Ali Baba Témé’s children. His photographs invite you to live their daily life. You will discover their games, village life, school, daily household duties, traditions and their environment. After meeting Nouhoum, Michel, Abiba and Oumou, these children will remain with you when you close the book. ISB
ISBN : 978-2-919632-02-2