Hogon

Spiritual leader in Dogon villages

This article is about the Dogon spiritual leader. For the temple in Japan, see Hogon-ji Temple.

Part of a series on

Traditional African religions

Religions

* Akan
* Amazigh
* Ancient Egypt
* Bantu
* Baluba
* Bushongo
* Chagga
* Kongo
* Lozi
* Luhya
* Tumbuka
* Zulu
* Dinka
* Dogon
* Efik
* Gbe
* Hausa
* Nubia
* Lotuko
* Lugbara
* Maasai
* Mbuti
* Odinala (Igbo)
* San
* Serer
* Vodun
* Waaqeffanna (Oromo)
* Yoruba

Doctrines

* Divination
* African divination
* Dogon astronomy (the star Sirius)
* Dogon astronomy (Nommo)
* Index of African mythology and creation narratives
* Philosophy
* Serer astronomy (the star Sirius)
* Yooniir
* Ciiɗ, Serer reincarnation

Deities

* Index of African deities
* List of African deities and mythical figures

Sacred places

* Bandiagara Escarpment
* Benin City
* Dahomey
* Fatick
* Ifẹ
* Igbo-Ukwu
* Jebel Barkal
* Kanem–Bornu
* Mount Hombori
* Nri-Igbo
* Nsukka
* Ouidah
* Oyo
* Point of Sangomar
* Sangha
* Sangha Ogol Leye
* Sine
* Sine River
* Somb
* Tattaguine
* Temple of Philae
* Tukar
* Yaboyabo
* Youga Dogorou

Education

* Ndut
* Okuyi

Priesthood

* God's Wife of Amun
* High Priest of Amun
* High Priest of Ptah
* Hogon
* Houngan
* Mambo
* Saltigue
* Sangoma

Relation with other religions

* African diaspora religions
* Persecution
* Persecution of Dogons
* Persecution of Serers
* Traditional African religion and other religions

* Category
* Portal

* v
* t
* e

A Hogon, in Mali

A hogon is a spiritual leader in a Dogon village who plays an important role in Dogon religion.

## The life of a hogon

[edit]

A hogon house

A hogon is a religious figure as well as a temporal authority;[1] the hogon may be hereditary or may be chosen from among the village elders—custom varies from place to place. The hogon is always a man. After being chosen, a hogon must pass through several months without washing or shaving. After initiation, he wears a red cap, and a pearl bracelet. Hogon live alone and should be celibate, but a village girl may act as a maid. Nobody should touch the hogon.[2]

## Ritual

[edit]

A Hogon cup (Ogo banya), used in particular during the Hogon's enthronement ceremony. Musée du quai Branly, Paris, France.

The hogon has a key role in village rituals and in ensuring fertility[3] and germination.[4]

The hogon is central to a wide range of fertility and marriage rituals, which are closely related to Dogon origin myths.[5]

The hogon may conduct rituals in the Sanctuaire de Binou, a special building the door of which is blocked with rocks.[6]

## Creation myth

[edit]

Further information: Dogon religion

According to legend, the first hogon, Lebe, was descended from a nommo. He was eaten by another nommo, and their spirits merged; the nommo vomited out a new Lebe (part human and part spiritual), plus copious liquid which shaped the landscape.[7]

## See also

[edit]

* Saltigue
* Traditional African religions
* Animism
* Shaman
* Awa Society

* Traditional African religion portal

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Imperato, Pascal James (1978). Dogon cliff dwellers: the art of Mali's mountain people. L. Kahan Gallery/African Art. p. 12.
2. ^ "hogon | African religious leader | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
3. ^ Bonnefoy, Yves (1993). American, African, and Old European mythologies. University of Chicago Press. pp. 123. ISBN 978-0-226-06457-4.
4. ^ Heusch, Luc de (June 1997). "Les mécanismes symboliques de la royauté sacre: à la re-découverte de Frazer". Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute (2).
5. ^ Dieterlen (1956). "Parenté et Mariage Chez les Dogon". Africa. 26 (2): 107–148\. doi:10.2307/1156839. JSTOR 1156839. S2CID 145001767.
6. ^ "hogon | African religious leader | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
7. ^ Imperato, Pascal James (2001). Legends, sorcerers, and enchanted lizards: door locks of the Bamana of Mali. Africana Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8419-1414-8.

* v
* t
* e

Dogon topics

People|

*   * Dogon
* Related topics :
* Tellem
* Toloy
* Kurumba (people of Burkina Faso)

Door of the Hogon box of Sangha, Mali.

Religion|

| Key topics|

*   * Amma
* Astronomy
* Cosmology
* Creation myth
* Dogon religion
* Festivals
* Awa Society
* Bado
* Bago
* Binou
* Bulo
* Dama, Dogon festival
* Gogo
* Nommo
* Lebe
* Sigi, Dogon festival
* Hogon
* Persecution

|

Sacred sites|

*   * Bandiagara Escarpment
* Mount Hombori
* Sangha, Mali
* Youga Dogorou

History|

* Bandiagara Escarpment
* Dan Na Ambassagou
* Dogon history
* Sobane Da massacre
* Ogossagou massacre

Demographic|

| Region|

*   * Dogon country
* Mali
* Niger
* Index of Dogon country

|

Languages|

*   * Dogon languages
* Ampari
* Ama
* Bankan Tey
* Ben Tey
* Bondum
* Bondu
* Dogul
* Duleri
* Escarpment
* Jamsai
* Mombo
* Nanga
* Penange
* Tebul
* Tommo So
* Toro-tegu
* Western Plains
* Yanda

Culture|

* African art in Western collections (stolen art)
* Dogon art
* Dogon culture
* Masks

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template