Ritual staff "yo domolo" ·  Mali, Dogon · ID: 3040433

Description

wood, brown patina, white pigment, partly encrusted, carved with anthropomorphic face, incised ornaments, grinded metal tags, eyes with inlay (missing on one side), slightly dam., abrasion of paint, base;
worn over the shoulder or held in the hand, curved staffs such as this are emblems of the society of “yona”, or “ritual thieves”. The principal activity of the society seems to occur at the funeral of one of its members, when the “yona” all stalk the village, stealing and killing as many chickens, sheep, and goats as they can, to be sacrificed and eaten at the funeral ceremony.

Comparing literature

Ezra, Kate, Art of the Dogon, New York 1988, p. 94