Message #32738

[Bianca]

Kananga masks contain geometric patterns. These
masks represent the first human beings. The Dogon
believe that the Dama dance creates a bridge into
the supernatural world. Without the Dama dance,
the dead cannot cross over into peace.

Their self-defense comes from their social solidarity
which is based on a complex combination of
philosophic and religious dogmas, the fundamental
law being the worship of ancestors. Ritual masks
and corpses are used for ceremonies and are kept
in caves. The Dogon are both Muslims and Animists.