article

Classification of plants among the Dogon

Journal de la Société des Africanists22 • Published In 1952 • Pages: HRAF MS: i, 72 [original: 115-158 ]

By: Dieterlen, Germaine, Schütze, Frieda.

Abstract
This article presents detailed information on the Dogon people's plant classification system (about 300 kinds) which the author collected in the field at Sanga (Bandiagara) in 1950 and 1952. Like all the categories of beings and the things of the universe recognized by the Dogon, the plants are classified into 24 families -- 22 primary and two complementary ones. The plant categories in the universe play an important role and have significant uses in native alimentation and pharmacopoeia. The coherent system of cosmo-biological correspondences reveals the synthesis of the knowledge of the Dogon.
Subjects
Ethnobotany
culture
Dogon
HRAF PubDate
2000
Region
Africa
Sub Region
Western Africa
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Cheng-ruey Ma ; 1970
Field Date
1937-1952 (esp. 1950-1952)
Coverage Date
1950-1952
Coverage Place
Sanga, Bandiagara Circle, Mopti Region, Mali
Notes
Germaine Dieterlen
Translation of: Classification des végétaux chez les Dogon
The original French text is not included
Includes bibliographical references (p. 70-72)
Translated for the HRAF files by Frieda Schütze
LCCN
46039584
LCSH
Dogons (African people)