Mask - Mali

particularly in Dogon culture, the horse and its rider occupy a particularly special place.

A Dogon figurative sculpture in the round, this rider perched on his mount sports a sharply pointed nose, the prominent features of the Dogon, as well as the traditional bonnet. It is evident that the height of the neck represents about half the height of the torso, reinforcing the noble bearing of the figure who holds a dagger in his right hand. But far more than a physical representation, it evokes dominance over the world, both material and immaterial.

The Hogon, the religious leader, the highest authority of the Dogon people, would parade on his mount during his enthronement, for custom dictated that he not set foot on the ground. In the Sangha cliffs region, inaccessible on horseback, the priests carried him then, while neighing in reference to the mythical ancestor Nommo. The Hogon also wears boots when receiving guests, according to Germaine Dieterlen, who studied the Dogon population, always in reference to the rider and the ancestor Nommo.

Source: Cheval et cavalier dans