How were Dogon masquerade dances used during funeral rites in Mali?

Among the Dogon people of Mali, masquerade dances serve a vital spiritual function during funeral rites, acting as a means to ensure the passage of the deceased into the realm of the ancestors.12

These performances are carried out by young adult members of the Awa, the men’s masking association. During the dances, the performers wear a wide variety of carved wooden masks—such as the sirige, kanaga, and satimbe—which are constructed to be lightweight, allowing the dancers to perform vigorous movements. A traditional element of these funeral dances involves the carriers bending to touch the earth, a gesture performed to honour the dead.12

Beyond their role in funeral ceremonies, these masks are also used at the end of the mourning period to help drive away the spirits of the deceased. While these traditions have historically been central to Dogon social and spiritual life, the influence of a cash economy, the spread of Islam, and the commercialization of dance for tourism have significantly altered the original context and purpose of these performances in modern times.12