Flint chisel

Dolaba (in the Sigi-so language - dono) is a seat made and used only on the occasion of the Sigi festival - a ceremony held every 60 years, commemorating the events connected with the appearance of death in the Dogon. It is attended by all males, even the smallest ones. The festival begins in Youga Dogorou, and then moves on to other villages over several years. In each of the villages where Sigi takes place, the celebration lasts about three weeks. Each participant has their own dolaba. He holds it in his hand during numerous processions and dances, and in moments of rest, he uses it as a seat while drinking beer. Dono symbolises the dead Nommo presented with open arms. After the festival of Sigi, every boy or man keeps his dolaba with great reverence. That is because dono is a testimony of a man's participation in the Sigi festival. After death, it is carried to a horizontal rock crevice near the corpse of its owner. Dolaba in question is carved; hence, it is known that it belonged to Olubaru, a man initiated into the cult of Awa, one of the cults of death. Awa is also the name of an association of masks, bringing together all circumcised men. Olubaru know the secret ritual Sigi-so language, have a leadership role during Sigi, depositories of the knowledge and rituals they pass on to the next generation and play a crucial role during funerals. At dawn on the first day of Sigi, new dolaba are dyed red with a vegetable dye obtained from the bark of the sa tree and sprinkled with sesame oil. The vital force (nyama) contained in these ingredients is transferred through dolaba to the person who sits on it.

Ewa Prądzyńska