Rain altar, Sanga region, Mali

Object Details

Local Numbers: Y12 I 1 DGN 20 EEE 72
General: Title is provided by EEPA staff based on photographer's notes.
Local Note: Selgem EE12380000; Slide included in the Eliot Elisofon Field Photographic Collection.; The slide was taken in the West Africa--Sahel region.; A photographic print resides in the collection.; Series Reference: 20.; Frame value is 19.; Slide No. I 1 DGN 20 EEE 72

See more items in: Eliot Elisofon Field collection; Eliot Elisofon Field collection / Mali

Archival Repository: Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art

Collection Citation: Eliot Elisofon Field Collection, EEPA 1973-001, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution

Collection Rights: Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.

Scope and Contents: "A great Dogon ritual of renewal, the buro, takes place each year after the harvest. At rainmaking altars sacrifices are made to Ama, the sky god, who controls the falling of the rain." [Hollyman S. and Van Beek W., 2001: Dogon, Africa's People of the Cliffs. Harry N Abrams, Inc.]. During his trip to Mali, Elisofon visited the Dogon people in Sanga (Sangha), a group of thirteen villages lying east of Bandiagara at the top of an escarpment. The most important villages are Ogol-du-Haut and Ogol-du-Bas. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignement for National Geographic Film and traveled to Africa from January 19, 1972 to mid April 1972.

Collection Restrictions: Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.