We leave Djenne to travel to the cliffs of Bandigaria in Dogon country. The drive is harsh. There are no roads now. We drive through the desert. We are tossed, turned, rolled and whipsawed through the rough terrain. The haze that we had experienced earlier and now the sun is punishing. But when we arrive at the first Dogon village built into the escarpment, the journey proves well worth the difficulty of reaching this place. The village is called Chikaboomboom. The Dogon tribespeople built their villages into the cliffsides to protect against antagonistic Felani who kidnapped Dogon children and forced them into slavery. Now these tribes live in peace and some Felani even live in Dogon villages now. The harmonious relationship is celebrated in colorful dance ceremonies. Nevertheless, many Dogon still tatoo the faces of their babies with a burning hot knife, a practice that existed to identify a child stolen and enslaved. The views from all vantage points of the Dogon villages are breathtaking.
No comments:
Post a Comment