The Culture of the Dogon - On View in Germany for the First Time | Arts 21

Summary

The Doone people of Mali are renowned for their rich and diverse culture, with the terilli masked dancers performing the dance of death at funerals and tourists' events. Their masks and wood sculptures, deeply rooted in their religious cosmology, are exhibited in Germany, highlighting colonial-era artifacts. However, a travel warning has led to a tourism downturn, impacting the local economy and wood carvers' livelihoods. The Doone, living in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bandiagara, have seen their cultural heritage scattered abroad. Efforts are underway to raise awareness and preserve their unique art, with museums and art centers aiming to educate and inspire future generations.

Takeaways

• 🎭 The Doone people of Mali are known for their rich and diverse culture, including the masked dancers of Terilli who perform the dance of death at funerals and for tourists.
• 🎨 The Doone are renowned globally for their masks and wood sculptures, which are deeply rooted in their religious cosmology where animals play a significant role.
• 🏛️ An exhibition showcasing the Doone's art, including masks and religious objects, is held at the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bonn, featuring pieces that were previously removed during colonial times.
• 🌳 The Doone's art is produced in villages and used in religious rituals, but the lack of tourism due to travel warnings has severely impacted the local economy and the wood carvers' livelihoods.
• 🏞️ The area where the Doone live, in eastern Mali, was declared a World Heritage site over 20 years ago for its cliffs and traditional clay dwellings.
• 🌱 The Doone share the region with the Talum people and have adopted many of their traditions, including their animist religion, which believes in the soul of objects and animals.
• 🔮 The Doone's religious objects often disappear due to being sold out of economic necessity or theft, leading to a loss of cultural heritage.
• 🏛️ Museums in the Doone land, built with help from the Mali government and German cooperation, aim to raise cultural awareness and keep cultural assets in Mali.
• 🌐 The exhibition in Bonn not only displays valuable artworks but also examines the legacy of colonialism and the influence of Doone art on European artists, including Pablo Picasso.
• 👨‍🎨 Despite the challenges, some local artists like YF Dada have managed to make a living from their art, combining traditional wood carving techniques with their own unique styles.

Q & A

What is the Doone people's culture known for in Africa?

The Doone people's culture is known for being one of the most fascinating and diverse in Africa, with unique traditions and art forms such as the masked dancers of Terilli and their renowned masks and wood sculptures.

What is the significance of the dance of death performed by the masked dancers of Terilli?

The dance of death is performed at funerals and is a significant cultural practice of the Doone people, symbolizing their religious cosmology where animals play an important role.

How are the ritual masks made by the Doone people?

Each dancer carves his own ritual mask, with designs derived from the Doone's religious cosmology, which often includes elements of animals.

What is the current exhibition of the Doone's works at the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany?

The exhibition features masks, religious objects, and carvings that were removed from Mali during colonial times by European ethnologists and collectors.

Why are tourists important to the Doone people's economy?

Tourists are crucial to the Doone economy as they buy the masks and sculptures, which are produced in villages like Marlei. The absence of tourists due to travel warnings has had disastrous consequences for the local economy and wood carvers.

What is the significance of the area where the Doone people live in eastern Mali?

The area is a World Heritage site known for its cliffs and traditional clay dwellings, and it is where the Doone people developed one of Africa's most diverse cultures on the isolated plateau of Bandiagara.

What is the Doone people's religious belief regarding objects and animals?

The Doone people believe in animism, which means they think that objects and animals have a soul, and this belief influences their burial practices and cultural heritage.

Why are some of the Doone's cultural heritage objects disappearing?

Cultural heritage objects are disappearing due to economic necessity, as people sell them because of poverty, or they are stolen, leading to a loss of cultural assets.

What role do the museums in the land of the Doone play in preserving their culture?

Museums in the Doone land raise cultural awareness and help keep cultural assets in Mali, but they also face the challenge of many artifacts already being lost to places abroad.

How has the Doone's art influenced European art?

The Doone's art, particularly their sculptures, has had a significant influence on European art, inspiring modern artists like Pablo Picasso and many contemporary artists.

What is the current situation of local artists in Marlei, and how are they coping with the absence of tourists?

Few local artists in Marlei can make a living with their art due to the absence of tourists. Some, like YF Dada, have managed to succeed by branching out into their own style and being discovered by foreign art collectors.