Fetish of earth

In the Dogon country, hoe-farmingis the basis of the traditional economy. Every, even the smallest, piece of land is used for cultivation in the rocky cliffs, where terraces are created which are protected against a landslide by stones. The Dogon usually grow millet (yu), sorghum (eme), fonio (po), beans (nu), maize (ga) and peanuts (elie). Farming involves all healthy family members. Men and women do the heavier work, the elderly and children the lighter work. The Dogon believe that the effort put into cultivating the fields is not enough to ensure a good harvest. Effective protection from pests and thieves and a guarantee of the best growing conditions for the plants are to be ensured by the altars and fetishes erected in the fields. These take various forms, they can be stones, clay fragments of old vessels, carved stone and wooden figures. Such an object acquires its power only after sacralisation, which involves making offerings, usually of millet flour mixed with water, and uttering words of prayer. It is interesting to note that the earth fetish presented here was made from an old, worn out pestle for beating onions, which is now the main export product of the Dogon. It is sold in the form of balls formed from the green stalks of chives or as onions themselves without juice, which is removed using a pestle with a wide beating part. Thanks to the removal of the juice, the onion balls do not spoil and retain their flavour for a very long time. They can be found in many markets in the Republic of Mali.

Ewa Prądzyńska