page_title: Hogon
section_title: The life of a hogon
hierarchical_section_title: Hogon / The life of a hogon
caption_attribution_description: English: House of the Hogon, the spiritual leader of dogon people, Mali, December 2006. Français&#160;: Concession du Hogon du village de Sangha - Quartier de Ogol du haut - Pays Dogon - Mali
context_page_description: A Hogon is a spiritual leader in a Dogon village who play an important role in Dogon religion.
context_section_description: A hogon is a religious figure as well as a temporal authority; the hogon may be hereditary or may be chosen from among the village elders—custom varies from place to place. The hogon is always a man. After being chosen, a hogon must pass through several months without washing or shaving. After initiation, he wears a red cap, and a pearl bracelet. Hogon live alone and should be celibate, but a village girl may act as a maid. Nobody should touch the hogon.
caption: A hogon house
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