MALI
Les Dogon – Collection Radiodiffusion d’Outre-Mer, recorded on the cliffs of Bandiagara, in the Mopti Region, by François Di Dio in April 1956, released 1958 (2 LP, 10 in, 33 RPM)
The Dogon people of Mali are renowned as one of Africa’s most famous ethnic/cultural groups. Their fascinating traditions gained international recognition thanks to decades of in-depth research by French anthropologists Marcel Griaule (1898–1956) and Germaine Dieterlen (1903–1999).
The Dogon people live in a remarkable environment, with their architecture integrated into the Bandiagara cliffs. They are known for their distinctive art and dance, intricate social structures and rituals, and their incredibly detailed knowledge of the Sirius star system. Their traditional cosmology accurately describes the characteristics of Sirius B and its 50-year elliptical orbit. Their knowledge of this white dwarf star, invisible to the naked eye, is sometimes referred to as the "Sirius Mystery."
Dogon music was thus a natural choice for this stunning and influential 1958 release. This landmark set included two 10-inch records and an 18-page photographic booklet, establishing the standard for what would become Ocora's legendary first series a few years later.
This double album features two distinct musical journeys. "Songs of Life" (Sides A & B) immerses listeners in music woven into the fabric of daily activities, such as farming. In contrast, the captivating "Funeral Ritual" (Sides C & D) presents a collective ceremony guiding the deceased into the realm of ancestors, songs dedicated to the Andumbulu spirit world, and masked dances rich with the symbolism and meaning central to Dogon culture and its regeneration.
Le peuple dogon du Mali est l'un des groupes ethniques les plus renommés d'Afrique. Leurs traditions captivantes ont acquis une reconnaissance internationale, notamment grâce aux décennies de recherches approfondies menées par les anthropologues français Marcel Griaule (1898-1956) et Germaine Dieterlen (1903-1999).
Les Dogon vivent dans un environnement remarquable, où leur architecture s'intègre harmonieusement aux falaises de Bandiagara. Ils sont réputés pour leur art, leurs danses distinctives, leur organisation sociales et leurs rituels élaborés. Ce qui fascine toutefois le plus, c'est leur connaissance étonnamment précise du système stellaire de Sirius. Leur cosmologie traditionnelle décrit avec précision les caractéristiques de Sirius B et son orbite elliptique de 50 ans. Cette compréhension d'une étoile naine blanche, invisible à l'œil nu, est souvent désignée sous le nom de « mystère de Sirius ».
La musique dogon s’imposa comme un choix naturel pour cette édition remarquable de 1958. Ce coffret historique, composé de deux disques 25 cm et d’un livret photo de 18 pages, a jeté les bases qualitatives de ce qui allait devenir la légendaire première série d'Ocora, quelques années plus tard.
Ce double album offre deux explorations musicales contrastées. Les "Chants de la Vie" (faces A et B) transportent l'auditeur au cœur de la musique quotidienne, profondément enracinée dans les activités agricoles. En contrepoint, le captivant Rituel Funéraire (faces C et D) présente une intense cérémonie collective pour accompagner un défunt vers le monde des ancêtres, des chants adressés aux esprits Andoumboulou, ainsi que des danses masquées. Ces dernières sont particulièrement riches en symbolisme et en signification, et jouent un rôle central dans la culture dogon et sa régénération.
Songs of Life
A1 – Dogon Greeting
Greetings! Are you at peace? Yes, I am. What about your wife, children, and everyone else?
A2 – Women's Song
A3 – Men's Song
A4 – Women's Farming Song
A5 – Men's Farming Song
A6 – Women's Song
A7 – The Hogon Pounds Millet
The Hogon, the spiritual leader and village elder, plays a key role in rituals and ceremonies, including fertility rites.
B1 – Kouwa Eloum Vohé
I haven’t seen the Kouwa bird, nor heard its song last night or this morning.
B2 – Hé! Hé! Yaoulé Mi Obé Ma Hé!
Tell me, where will you be married? In the village of Baou, or somewhere else?
B3 – Greetings to the New Bride! Dabo Dinam Mahiniéé Céguéré
Listen closely, for I will sing the Dabo marriage song!
B4 – Popo Yapilenou Po Vo
Greetings to the new bride, Yapilénou.
B5 – Song of the Healers – Diognoné Miga Diognoné Kilé Diini
We, the healers who serve our village, provide genuine care that surpasses the fleeting services of those who wander from place to place. They are charlatans; we are true healers.
B6 – Song of the Healers – Andumbulu So Mô Taga
I, Healer Daléba, have been initiated into the secrets of the Andumbulu bush spirits. Through the spirit Kedéi, I received the gift of healing.
B7 – Song of the Healers – Ah! Belou Ma Hé
Ah! Ah! We were there when the man fell ill, but no one asked us to heal him.
Funeral Ritual
C – 1/ Announcement of the Funeral
The body of the deceased is laid to rest in a necropolis carved into the cliffside. The funeral ceremonies begin with rifle shots echoing through the air. Following this, the women approach to pay their respects to the deceased's coverings, while a group of men gathers in the mortuary house. To ensure the soul's peaceful departure from the body, the funeral ritual can sometimes last for more than three days, accompanied by handclaps, drums, bells, horns and singing.
2/ Ha Hé Yo
Instead of crying at funerals, the Dogon people traditionally express their profound sorrow by singing "Ha Hé Yo" to the four cardinal directions.
3/ Assam Vohé Hogo Miné
Hear our voices deceased man. You are now a silent man who listens to the world. Deceased man, listen and see what we have brought you: horses, captives and cows.
4/ Yapanouné Daga
We, the brothers of the deceased from the village, salute his widow.
5/ Ouné Koliya Hembé
The widow of the deceased has covered herself in ashes. She sows ashes on herself. What does this signify?
6/ Ande Bem Kabile Yo Boi
Forgive us, ancestors, who built this village and now rest in the earth. We descend to you, knowing we are nothing without your legacy. Forgive us, ancestors, because we cannot walk upon the ground where you lie.
D1 – Song of the Andumbulu
Addressed to the spirits, this song is whispered by initiates kneeling in a circle in the deserted village at night, with only the barking of dogs and the wind disturbing the silence. The lyrics narrate the creation of humans and the appearance of life on Earth. As the song concludes, a man recites a genealogy and offers praises to the deceased. Finally, horns announce the deceased's passage into the realm of ancestors.
D2 – Bullroarer
An initiate whirls a bullroarer, or rhombus, through the air, producing otherworldly sounds. Dogon esoteric lore holds that this instrument symbolizes the voice of the first ancestor to encounter death.
D3 – Masks Come Out
Masked men emerge from a hidden shelter, singing and shouting in a secret tongue, encouraged by their fellow initiates.
D4 – Kanaga Dance (pictured below)
The Kanaga mask is distinctive for its geometric cross design, which symbolically represents a human figure. The accompanying Kanaga dance is characterized by dynamic body movements and circular whirling. It culminates with the mask touching the ground to imitate the movement of the sun.
D5 – Sirigue Dance (pictured below)
The five-meter-long Sirigue masks represent the different stages of creation. The mask bearers begin by kneeling and facing East, the direction of the rising Sun. They touch the ground multiple times with the mask's elongated mast. Then, rising to their feet, the bearers incline the mast parallel to the ground and initiate circular movements. As the mast whirls, the crowd bends down in unison to avoid its sweeping path. These circular motions symbolize creation revolving around a divine axis. Once the mask bearers have finished their cosmic dance, the crowd erupts in joyful shrieks, celebrating the marvels of nature they have witnessed.
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My other Malian music posts:
Sékou Batourou Kouyaté et sa Cora – Disques Kouma here
Sali Sidibé – L'enfant Chéri du Wossolon Vol. 1 here
Ensemble Instrumental National du Mali – Syllart Production here
African Journey – A Search for the Roots of the Blues Vol. 1 here
Photographs below are from The Dances of Africa by Michel Huet, Harry N. Abrams, 1996:
Dogon Sirige masks (D5)
The Sirige masks of the Awa Society were once only seen by initiates.
The arrival of the masks is announced by the eerie sound
of a bullroarer (D2).
Dogon Kanaga mask (D4)
Traditionally, members of the Awa Society wear Kanaga masks during the Dama ceremony. This ceremony, performed months or years after an individual's passing, is crucial for guiding their soul from the village
into the realm of the ancestors.
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