We roamed through several Dogon villages, learning about their culture. The Dogons are animists and I had to learn what an “animist” is. According to the dictionary – the belief in the existence of individual spirits that inhabit natural objects and phenomena. With this belief of Gods in everything around them, they have elaborate masked dances and male initiation rites in caves painted with different representations. …View image…

The Dogons grow maize, millet and onions and stock goats and sheep. Each village is dominated by a togu’na, a intricately decorated platform where the men elders talk over village business. It looked cool inside but women are not allowed inside the togu’na…we could just admire the detailed and exquisite carvings from the outside…

togu’na in a Dogon village, Mali

togu’na details in a Dogon village, Mali, West Africa

Their fortified cliff villages were competely camouflaged in the countryside among all the rocks. We always attracted a crowd of children who came running to gawk at us especially when the time grew nearer for the amazing Dogon masked dance.

children watching the Dogon masked dance, Mali

The entire village gathered when it was dance time. They were as excited as we even though they’ve seen it many times before. … View image… With loud drumming, the Masked Dance began.

Travels With Sheila watching the Dogon masked dance in Mali, West Africa

Some masks are 15 feet tall and dancers perform on stilts! Only men take part in the dance but this man was representing a woman, and every mask had a meaning. …View image…

masked Dogon dancer on stilts, Mali, West Africa

We were exhausted just watching them and could only imagine how they felt in this incredible heat, wearing stifling masks and dancing so energetically.
It was back to camp for two more nights before heading to Djenne…with local children, sitting around our tents, just watching us. …View image…