Dogon: Africa's People of the Cliffs (Hardcover)

~ Walter E.A. Vanbeek (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Several books are available on the culture and crafts of the Dogon people, but this successful collaboration between a photographer and an anthropologist is both informative for the anthropologist and enjoyable for the lay reader. Van Beek (cultural anthropology, Univ. of Utrecht, the Netherlands; The Kapsiki of the Mandara Hills) offers an easy-to-digest yet comprehensive ethnographic sketch of these residents of the West African nation of Mali. The daily deliberations of the Dogon; their kinship structures, rituals, and social networks; the historical circumstances surrounding their settlement; and the survival strategies developed for a region of scarce water resources, encroaching desert, and arid lands all receive detailed attention. Van Beek's observations and explanations are embellished with lively images by accomplished photographer Hollyman (We the Homeless). Recommended especially for anthropology and African studies collections though certainly not out of place in any large public library. Edward K. Owusu-Ansah, Murray State Univ. Lib., KY
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The Dogon live in a remote area of the west African country of Mali, in mud-brick houses below the breathtaking Bandiagara cliffs, which shielded them from nineteenth-century slave traders, and twentieth-century Western culture as well. This stunning photographic book demonstrates how geography, with a 125-mile range of cliffs, has protected and dictated the culture of the intensely spiritual Dogon. The focus is on the people of the cliff face in their villages built beside steep-walled gorges that are accessible only on foot. Photojournalist Hollyman and anthropologist van Beek detail the Dogon's skill as agriculturists in growing sorghum, millet, corn, and onions, and as skilled artisans famous for the masks they make. Hollyman and van Beek highlight the Dogon orientation toward communal labor, collective action, and group responsibility, and also how they maintain their culture and interact with the outside world. This beautiful accounting and showing of this distinctive people's history and culture will enthrall many, especially anthropologically minded readers interested in how non-Western cultures maintain their traditions. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810943735
• ISBN-13: 978-0810943735
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #401,462 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #8 in	Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Anthropology > Primitive
  #8 in	Books > History > Africa > Mali
  #53 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Travel > Africa

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good pictures and very good texts, October 7, 2002

By	Vladyslav Serdyuk "Vlad" (Kiev, Ukraine) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The book is very good. Make a jorney in one of the Africa most interesting tribe. You will enjoy it. Good for those who have never been among dogons and even for those who have been there. You will find a lot of interesting information. Some pictures are not excellent but anyway I would recommend this book. It is very deep.