Togu na Support Post: Female Figure
Not on view
Forked sculptural elements support the roof beams of togu na, open-sided shelters where Dogon men meet to rest, converse, and discuss issues of importance to the community. The low roofs, made of thick stacks of millet stalks, keep the interior dark and cool and force the men to sit, encouraging calm, peaceful discourse. The posts are carved in relief, usually with figures of women with exaggerated conical breasts, couples, or more recently animals, masks, and other subjects. The figures display the geometric and angular forms favored by Dogon artists.
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