Hogon

A Hogon is a spiritual leader in a Dogon village.

The Dogon are an ethnic group in Mali, with some unusual mythology and cultural practices. Most Dogon villages are situated around the arid Bandiagara Escarpment in central Mali.

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.

It has become customary for tourists to bring small gifts of money or kola nuts for the hogon when visiting a village.

The Hogon has a key role in village rituals and in ensuring fertility and germination.

The Hogon is central to a wide range of fertility and marriage rituals, which are closely related to Dogon origin myths.

The Hogon may conduct rituals in the Sanctuaire de Binou, a special building whose door is blocked with rocks.

According to legend, the first hogon, Lebe, was descended from a nommo. He was eaten by another nommo, and their spirits merged; the nommo vomited out a new Lebe (part human and part spiritual), plus copious liquid which shaped the landscape.

...
Wikipedia