essay
Functions of sculpture in Dogon religion
African arts • 21 (4) • Published In 1988 • Pages: 59-65, 91
By: Beek, W. E. A. van.
Abstract
This article is a discussion of the religious function of Dogon statues. The statues have a public and private use. Publically, they are found alongside most altars, where they act as a supernatural antenna, transmitting invocations and offerings to the gods and ancestors, and receiving in turn supernatural forces. Privately, any individual can make a statue to request divine aid in family matters. The statues are used again and again and grow in their power, which also makes them more dangerous. They fall out of use when the person who made them dies. Having lost their power they are then sold to the tourist trade.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2000
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Western Africa
- Document Type
- essay
- Evaluation
- Ethnologist-4,5
- Analyst
- Ian Skoggard ;1999
- Coverage Date
- 1978-1985
- Coverage Place
- Bandiagara, Mali
- Notes
- Walter E. A. van Beek
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 91)
- LCCN
- sf77000055
- LCSH
- Dogons (African people)