Shoulder crook "yo domolo" ·  Mali, Dogon · ID: 3038810

Description

wood, partly encrusted brown patina, in form of a stylized animal head, “mane” with triangular cutouts, forehead nail, min. dam., cracks, small missing parts, slight traces of abrasion, base;
such staffs are emblems of the society of “yona” or “ritual thieves”. Each Dogon clan has a ritual thief, designated by the clan’s eldest member. 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.

Exposition

Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, MA, Oct. 15, 1995 to Feb. 25, 1996; Middlebury College Museum of Art, March 20, 1996 to June 2, 1996