Figure - ancestor

The figure represents the ancestor of the Dogon. The Dogon sculpted the first anthropomorphic figure in mythical times. It became the support for the life force nyama, released by the death of one of the first ancestors. The force was a danger for the living and a new home had to be prepared for it. The statue, together with a clay vessel for sacrifices, was placed on the terrace of the dead man's house. When death spread throughout the Dogon country, similar statues and vessels began to be placed on other family altars by the scales. In this way, a share was given to all the dead of the family. Wooden figures representing human figures are also found on other altars. These include yapilu altars dedicated to women who died during pregnancy or childbirth (also called yapilu). The forces that cause such deaths are considered dangerous and particularly contagious, so separate altars located outside the village are erected for them. Other altars with wooden sculptures on them are the personal kutogolo dedicated to the head ku the seat of thought and will, intended to increase and strengthen the personal power of the living person, bala for the manicurist who, according to the Dogon, has special powers in his left hand, and andugu altars on which sacrifices are made to bring rain.Altars are not the only places where one can find wooden sculptures representing both men and women. Similar depictions can also be found in binu temples, dedicated to mythical ancestors. The variety of altars and temples with depictions of ancestors placed in them is enormous, but it is difficult to observe any relationship between the style, size, form, type of figure and its final destination.

Ewa Prądzyńska