DOGON, MALI

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The Dogon people settled in present-day central Mali, between the Niger River and the border of Burkina Faso, sometime around the fifteenth century, establishing themselves in cliff dwellings beneath the Bandiagara Escarpment. Their sculptural tradition was heavily influenced by the Tellem, the Bandiagara culture who the Dogon displaced when they arrived beneath the cliffs. Dogon art was often religious in nature, and figures were housed reverently in shrines to support the flourishing of the land and the community. Sculptures were often created by blacksmiths, who were honored in Dogon society, and were used for ritual and initiatory purposes.

Tall, slender figures with columnar bodies and ovular or columnar heads are one of the iconic Dogon types. This female figure shows a long torso and arms, raised angular shoulders, and a bullet-shaped head on a slim neck. It displays qualities considered highly desirable in Dogon women – knees bent in suppliant deference, downcast eyes and hands modestly clasped, displaying self-control and propriety. The expanse of the abdomen creates a strong focal point, suggesting the power for childbearing. Facial features and the surfaces of the body on the whole are richly encrusted and eroded, enhancing the figure’s symbolic connections to the earth, fertility, and ancestral history.

The female figure is represented wearing a lip plug. Among the Dogon people of Mali, lip piercing holds significant cultural and symbolic meaning, particularly for women. The practice involves inserting rings into the lower lip, a tradition that begins in early childhood. At around the age of three, Dogon girls have their lower lips pierced, and a small ring is inserted. This initial piercing symbolizes the introduction of speech, marking a child’s entry into the realm of communication. In contrast to other African cultures where lip plates are often used, the Dogon practice focuses on the insertion of plugs rather than large plates. This distinction highlights the unique cultural significance of lip piercing among the Dogon, where the emphasis is on the symbolic aspects of speech and communication rather than aesthetic or social status markers.