Dogon Country

The cliff-dwelling Dogon people live on the Bandiaragara Escarpment on the eastern edge of Mali, near the Burkina Faso border. This gallery contains 43 images of Dogon Country

The main road from Mopti to the remote Dogon Country is unpaved and rough Most people on the Bandiagara Escarpment walk, even over very long distances The Bandiagara Escarpment provides the homes for 350,000 Dogon people Dogon villages are found at the foot of the escarpment. Dogon villages are found at the foot of the escarpment. Dogon villages are found at the foot of the escarpment. Higher on the cliff are remains of the ancient Tellem people These are grain stores, which are where Dogons keep their possessions. Round roof grain stores are the women's - the pointy roofs are for the men The French taught the Dogon how to grow onions, and this is the main crop today Game is kept on the outside of grain stores Ireli village is a major Dogon settlement, but hard to see from a distance Tellem remains above Ireli village Carrying water up the steep hill to the village is women's work General view of Ireli village Mother carrying a yong child uphill in Ireli village Disputes are settled by the men in this structure, which all villages have It is designed so that everyone inside must sit, which makes violence impossible Ireli village, with Tellem remains in the escarpment above Ireli village, with Tellem remains in the escarpment above Ireli village, with Tellem remains in the escarpment above Tellem remains in the escarpment above Ireli village A view of Ireli village with the flat plain stretching to Burkina Faso below A baobab tree at the foot of Ireli village Women's work - pounding millet in Tireli village A dance to celebrate a funeral in Tireli village. Tireli is a Christian village Each dancer wears a mask representing a different animal or person The dancers on stilts represent cranes. At the right is the village chief This dancer represents a monkey Some of the masks are very elaborate - a joyous way to celebrate a funeral Women carrying cargo near Amani village The flat dry plain at the foot of the Bandiagara Escarpment Men's grain stores in Ireli village Tellem remains on the escarpment near Bongo A close view of Tellem remains on the escarpment near Bongo A street scene in Songho, a Dogon village near the top of the Escarpment The elaborate carved door to the chief's home in Tirele village The circumcision grotto in Songho village A mass circumcision ceremony is conducted every few years or so in this grotto Each boy who is circumcised paints a symbol on the wall of the grotto Dogon people growing onions as a commercial crop Songho village. The mosque indicates that this is a Muslim village An evening view of Songho village