Figurine - woman

The Dogon are people living in the Republic of Mali. The basis of their economy is digging. Many of the Dogon annual rituals are connected to ensuring a good harvest. To this end, they thank the god Amma and their ancestors for a good harvest and ask for blessings for the coming field season. The two most important festivals in the agricultural calendar are Goru and Bulo, during which the priests of both cults of life - Hogon (priest of the Lebe cult) and Binukedine (priest of the Binu cult) - cooperate. Bulo is a festival of thanksgiving and supplication celebrated in late May or the first half of June, just before the rainy season arrives. It is called the sowing festival or the festival of the new and happy year. It is held in the main square of the village. Each village sets its own date for the celebration. The starting date is decided jointly, several days in advance, by Hogon and Binukedine. It is believed that Bulo should be celebrated on the same day as the first rain falls, but in practice, despite numerous consultations with fortune-tellers and sky observations, it is very difficult to synchronise this. The purpose of the Bulo festival is to thank the supernatural forces for the help they have given to the people to obtain an abundant harvest. At the same time, requests are made for a good harvest for the following year. Some Dogon link it with the harvest festival, as the harvest depends on sowing. It is also said that masks once took part in this festival, but the last account of their participation dates to 1907. However, members of the Awa association act as cleaners during the festival, ensuring discipline and harmony to this day.

Ewa Prądzyńska