Zoomorphic figure, figure of horse

The image of a horse (suru in the Dogo-so language) is a rare motif in Dogon art. More popular are representations of horse riders. Such figures can be found all over West Africa. They symbolise prestige and power, alluding to the splendour of the former West African empires (Ghana, Mali, Songhai) when riding skills were highly valued. The horse is a traditional marker of wealth and high social standing. Only members of the most distinguished families could afford to own one. It is no different with the Dogon. Sculptures depicting a horse rider are always interpreted as representing Hogon, a community member who holds the position of the village chief. In oral tradition and fairy tales and stories, only his favourite sons ever ride a horse.In the past, horses played an important role, as evidenced by the leather saddles and riding boots with high heels that can still sometimes be found in Dogon homesteads. However, the animals themselves are now only observed in villages on the Plains. Many of the wealthier Dogon still breed them and ride them during ceremonies to emphasise their position.In the area around Bankass, in the western part of the Dogon country, horses are mainly used as draught animals. They are bred and traded by members of the Kosodjo family, called horse lords because of their profession. The horse also appears in Dogon mythology. In one version of the cosmogonic myth, Nommo, who oversaw an ark filled with passengers who were to settle the Earth, turned into a horse after it landed and dragged the vehicle to Lake Debo.

Ewa Prądzyńska