# Hogon

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This article is about the [Dogon](/source/Dogon_people) spiritual leader. For the temple in Japan, see [Hogon-ji Temple](/source/Hogon-ji_Temple).

A **hogon** is a spiritual leader in a [Dogon](/source/Dogon_people) village who plays an important role in [Dogon religion](/source/Dogon_religion).

## The life of a hogon

A hogon is a religious figure as well as a temporal authority;[1] the hogon may be hereditary or may be chosen from among the village elders—custom varies from place to place. The hogon is always a man. After being chosen, a hogon must pass through several months without washing or shaving. After initiation, he wears a red cap, and a pearl bracelet. Hogon live alone and should be celibate, but a village girl may act as a maid. Nobody should touch the hogon.[2]

## Ritual

The hogon has a key role in village rituals and in ensuring fertility[3] and germination.[4]

The hogon is central to a wide range of fertility and marriage rituals, which are closely related to Dogon origin myths.[5]

The hogon may conduct rituals in the Sanctuaire de [Binou](/source/Binou_(Dogon_religion)), a special building the door of which is blocked with rocks.[6]

## Creation myth

See also: [Dogon religion](/source/Dogon_religion)

According to legend, the first hogon, Lebe, was descended from a [nommo](/source/Nommo). He was eaten by another nommo, and their spirits merged; the nommo vomited out a new Lebe (part human and part spiritual), plus copious liquid which shaped the landscape.[7]

## See also

- [Saltigue](/source/Saltigue)
- [Traditional African religions](/source/Traditional_African_religions)
- [Animism](/source/Animism)
- [Shaman](/source/Shaman)
- [Awa Society](/source/Awa_Society)

## References

1. Imperato, Pascal James (1978). *Dogon cliff dwellers: the art of Mali's mountain people*. L. Kahan Gallery/African Art. p. 12.

1. ["hogon | African religious leader | Britannica"](https://www.britannica.com/topic/hogon). *www.britannica.com*. Retrieved 2022-05-25.

1. Bonnefoy, Yves (1993). [*American, African, and Old European mythologies*](https://archive.org/details/americanafricano00bonn/page/123). University of Chicago Press. pp. [123](https://archive.org/details/americanafricano00bonn/page/123). ISBN 978-0-226-06457-4.

1. Heusch, Luc de (June 1997). "Les mécanismes symboliques de la royauté sacre: à la re-découverte de Frazer". *Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute*. '***(2)***

1. Dieterlen (1956). "Parenté et Mariage Chez les Dogon". *Africa*. **26** (2): 107–148. [doi:10.2307/1156839](https://doi.org/10.2307/1156839). [JSTOR 1156839](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1156839). [S2CID 145001767](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:145001767)

1. ["hogon | African religious leader | Britannica"](https://www.britannica.com/topic/hogon). *www.britannica.com*. Retrieved 2022-05-25.

1. Imperato, Pascal James (2001). *Legends, sorcerers, and enchanted lizards: door locks of the Bamana of Mali*. Africana Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8419-1414-8.

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