Hogon's goblet with lid

The vessel belonged to hogon - a priest of the lebe cult, who sometimes also performed the function of a village chief or a group of villages. The Dogon believe in Amma - the creator god, but they are characterised by numerous cults, the cult of the ancestor Lebe, also called lebe, who embodies the forces of the earth and vegetation. He is identified with Amma's animated deity Nommo and with Lebe Serou (Lebe Seru), one of the eight principal Dogon ancestors born from the first pair of humans. According to myth, Lebe Serou died and was resurrected to heal the land tainted by the mythical Yurugu, a deity who shattered the world order by committing an incestuous act. The reviving powers of Nommo and Lebe are supposed to stimulate the plants planted by the Dogon to life. An altar dedicated to Lebe is located in the public square of every Dogon village. It is used to make offerings on behalf of the community by hogon, saying a prayer, an improvised recitation. During the sowing festival called bulo, hogon recites the following words: ‘Lebe; the day has already come, Lebe, take your water and drink it, Lebe, send millet, Lebe, send rain, Protect this village, Grant us children, Send millet, Give men, Give women, Ask Amma to send rain everywhere’. The purpose of the prayer and offering is to thank the supernatural forces for obtaining a bountiful harvest while asking for fertility for the following year. Hogon is at the top of the Dogoan social structure. He is primarily an authority on religion, but he also deals with matters related to the village's daily life, mainly concerning agricultural work. He is also responsible for maintaining order, tradition and harmony in community life. As the highest judge, he has the deciding vote in disputes. The election of a new hogon requires many consultations and can therefore take several years. In some villages, the oldest male inhabitant becomes the hogon, while in others, the selection is made from among the oldest men.

Katarzyna Findlik-Gawron