Dogon Songs of Life and Death: A Performance of the Baja Ni Funeral Cycle in Tireli, Mali

By Atimè D Saye, W E a Van Beek, Oumarou S Ongoiba

Though the Dogon are well-described, their culture still holds surprises. One of these is the cycle of songs called baja ni, which is at the heart of their funerary rites. These songs are attributed to a historic author, a blind poet/prophet who roamed the area in the nineteenth century and left a huge heritage of songs and prophecies. This book gives the full text of one performance of this legacy. The lyrics cover a range of topics, from comments on historical events to philosophical musings about life and death, and from remembering the departed to celebrating the joys of being alive.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9004718443
• ISBN13: 9789004718449
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Brill
• Length: 324 Pages
• Weight: 1.03 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.3" x 9.1"