The Sigui masked dance ritual of the Dogon people is one of the rarest ceremonial events in the world, performed once every 50 years in villages across Mali. This multi-year cycle marks the renewal of the world and honors the first ancestor, linking generations through time, memory, and movement. During Sigui, dancers wear towering wooden masks — some over 20 feet long — representing ancestral spirits and cosmic order. Accompanied by chanting, drums, and processions that move from village to vil

A fascinating Dogon ceremony, who believe masks serve as a connection between heaven and earth. The Dogon people perform this traditional dance several times a year with masks and walking on stilts. The 400,000 Dogon people live in Mali, 180 miles south of Timbuktu. Video via @pfro on Instagram | African Drumming

An outing of Dogon masks in Sangha, Mali. The 400,000 Dogon live 180 miles south of Timbuktu on the cliffs of Bandiagara, which dominate the plains for over 150 miles. They speak approximately 120 dialects. Because of the difficult approach to these regions and the aridity of the climate, the Dogon have been isolated and hence were able to conserve their ancient religious habits and ways of making their carvings. (Via Ali B. Timbiné / twitter) | African Drumming

#HistoryMatters: A Focus on the Dogon People in Mali The Dogon people of Mali are believed to have originated in ancient Egypt, though they have stories of traveling from the Mande kingdom. What is known for sure is that they settled along the sandstone cliffs by the Bandiagara Escarpment probably during the 15th or 16th century. The Dogon people are known for their legends about their origins and knowledge about space and extraterrestrials. The Dogon people are also famous for their intricately