Dogon Songs of Life and Death: A Performance of the Baja Ni Funeral Cycle in Tireli, Mali

Saye, Atimè D., Ongoiba, Oumarou S., van Beek, W.E.A.

Though the Dogon are well-described, their culture still holds surprises. One of these is the cycle of songs called baja ni, which is at the heart of their funerary rites. These songs are attributed to a historic author, a blind poet/prophet who roamed the area in the nineteenth century and left a huge heritage of songs and prophecies. This book gives the full text of one performance of this legacy. The lyrics cover a range of topics, from comments on historical events to philosophical musings about life and death, and from remembering the departed to celebrating the joys of being alive.

EAN

9789004718449

Publisher

Brill

Published

1 May 2025

Pages

324