dogon village, a photo from Mopti, South

Photographer's Note

This is a view of a Dogon village from high up on the 'falaise' (a steep cliff), just before our scramble down. I believe this particular village is Ibi, but I'm not sure.

Note that the pointed roofs belong to the graneries, while the actual houses have flat roofs.

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Dogon Country is a rather isolated and arid area near the eastern edge of Mali near the Burkina Faso border. It is inhabited by the Dogon people. Until the end of the colonial era, they were one of the few African peoples who had most successfully retained their culture and traditional ways of life. Even now, despite the presence of Islam and Christianity, Dogon peoples have largely held onto their animist beliefs, making it not only a real treasury for antropologists, but also a rather popular tourist destination.

In the summer of 2002 my wife and I went on a 10-day walkabout in the area.

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scan from print, hope you like it

Niebaotan, Buin, ChrysK, pabau, ktanska, patdeph ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

Niebaotan (300) 2009-01-24 7:21

Hi Benny

At first I didn't notice this was a real town, it looked more like a miniature. well anyway it's indeed fascinating architecture and from above this village looks stunning. Colors, details, composition - all great. Thanks for a nice and very interesting photo.

Peter

Buin (42580) 2009-01-24 8:00

Hallo Benny!
What a view! What an interesting village! These graneries really look picturesque and very uncommon for European eyes. An eyecatching and beautiful photo - and in combination with your excellent note a wonderful contribution in terms of TE!
Greetings from cold Germany!
Frank

sebinho342 (19329) 2009-01-24 8:58

Such an exotic and remote place ... lucky you to have visited this place, wow this is a great one, what a result as this view !
Excellent

pabau (488) 2009-01-24 11:52

bonjour Benny
thanks for this very attractive and interesting picture and also for your note. if you know Carcassonne, there is some likeness between the medieval castle with its towers and this african village.
pascal

"yaya13baut" who is a TE member has some beautiful photographies of Carcassonne city and is now driving to Mali and Burkina Faso

Waylim (25436) 2009-01-24 17:14

Benny,
Wow, there is just so much to looking at, excellent POV looking from almost right above from a helicopter, Interesting place with with unique houses and village, some area seem to be blur. What are the little dots, woods? Very unusual place. I like it. Nice scanned image.
Way

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2009-01-25 2:42 [Comment]

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kschanna (6) 2009-01-25 3:48

Hello Benny

Interesting architecture which is only accentuated from this loose crop and an elevated PoV.

Thanks for sharing
Kamran

SteveH (8220) 2009-01-25 4:03

Hi Benny, I'm very envious of you - having been to Mali, one country I would love to visit. And a really interesting POV showing the peculiar architecture. Perhaps slightly over sharpened, particularly noticable in the rubble (?) in the centre. Cheers, Steve

LeeLoo (0) 2009-01-25 7:27

Dear Benny Verbrech!
Mysterious village.
Wonderful houses and roofs.
Interesting point of view.
Good capture.
Fantastic effect.
TFS!

ktanska (44804) 2009-01-26 4:45

Hi Benny,
Fascinating high PoV that bring 'Earth from the Air' books to mind. Interesting building style with those conical roofs. Not an everyday sight here in TE.
Kari

patdeph (35750) 2009-01-26 8:43

hello Benny
this is a place that I dream to see,how I like this,this is a wonderful view on a superb village!I just hope that it's not too much touristic not to loose its authenticity!Superb!
Regards
Pascale

Mistral (15416) 2009-02-09 13:34

Hello Benny,
nice aerial view overlooking the Dogon village.
Nice details and colours. Good quality scan.
A smile
Luca

agjika (3177) 2009-11-18 4:19

This image makes me really redefine the meaning of the word VILLAGE! We are so much used to the European type of villages that this look quite alien to me.

Fantastic compostion, I take you took this picture from a hill or something?

Thanks for sharing

Aleks