July 21, 2003
Dogon Art
While hiking through Dogon Country, we got to visit a number of local artists at work. For example, this gentleman in the village of Teli produced statues and other carvings based on Dogon folklore.
Common themes are the crocodile (who first lead the Dogon to water in their migration from the Manding region) and various exaggerated human figures.
These men in Ende worked with bogolan fabric, dyeing the cloth and tailoring it into shirts and other garments.
In Ende we also found an indigo workshop, where women produced the dye from a mysterious substance that I couldn't translate (leaves? dirt?).
By tying knots in the fabric with thread that they release after soaking the cotton in dye, they are able to create complicated patterns and designs.
