This document focuses on an African Nation, and a "traditional" culture that inhabits the geographic area. The African Nation in question is "Mali", and the traditional culture is "Dogon" (Merriam-Webster's definition: a member of a people of Mali noted for their sculpture). This document will be broken down into different sections: General Information on Mali; Dogon Culture, and Dogon Art.
General Information on Mali.
"Mali (Republic of Mali) is an independent republic and is the largest country in West Africa. Mali is bordered on the north by Algeria, on the east and southeast by Niger, on the south by Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire, and on the west by Guinea, Senegal, and Mauritania. Bamako is the capital and also the largest city. In the south, by the Niger and Senegal rivers, are areas where peanuts, rice, and cotton are grown. Other areas of the country are arid desert or semi desert, and can barely support grazing (mainly cattle, sheep, and goats). The Niger River serves as an important transportation artery and a source of fish. About 90% of the population is Muslim; most of the remainder follows traditional religions. French is the official language, Bambara is spoken by 80% of the population and there are many other African tongues." ("Mali " 2000) .
Dogon Culture.
"The Dogon people (also known as the Kibbissi and Cadau), populate more than 350,000 peoples, and are scattered across the highlands of the Bandiagara escarpment in central Mali and in the circles of Koro, Bankass, Bandiagara, and Douentza. They live in hundreds of distinct villages. Because of the topography of their homeland (isolated in the valleys and high plateaus of the escarpment), the Dogon have been relatively little affected by modern society. The cliffs of the escarpment have protected the Dogon from invaders since the fifteenth century. They are extremely isolated (even from one another), and as a result of that, they speak more than thirty-five dialects.