Dogon Toguna beam (Mali)
Carved Toguna Dogon pillar (Mopti region, Mali)
In the center of each Dogon village there is always the Toguna (in the Dogon language, "Great Refuge") or Shonan (in the Dogon language, "House of the Word"), an open construction, generally raised on eight wooden pillars (one for each of the eight primordial ancestors) that support a roof made up of thick layers of millet stalks, superimposed year after year until reaching eight (again the cosmic number...).
The Toguna is the house where circumcised men meet every day to discuss the problems of the town, to do business, to judge misdemeanors and crimes, or simply to take refuge from the midday sun. It is usually a peaceful place, but sometimes the debates and trials get heated and, to avoid greater evils and blows, the roof of the Toguna is raised just one meter from the ground, forcing the members to remain seated.
The decoration of the enclosure is usually sober, although the Togunas of the villages located in the southern half of the Bandiagara cliff usually have their pillars finely carved with characters from Dogon mythology or reliefs calling for fertility.
Sometimes the Toguna is erected on a slope and then the rear pillars become testimonial and barely exceed 70 mm in length. This is the case of one of the ones we offer at Black Market that, despite its size, has been decorated with the relief of an androgynous ancestor on which two breasts are arranged as a desire for wealth and fertility. The shaft is separated from a forked capital by an aquatic motif and on the left arm of the fork the artist carved the head of a Nommo, an ancestral, hermaphrodite and amphibious creature.
Length: 70cm; Weight: 2.45 Kg
| Material: Wood |
Terms and Conditions
Standard shipping (free in Spain) and express
Free 30-day returns
100% safe and easy payment
Always ready to assist you
FAQ
Our shipments are made with tracking and, almost always, with several shipping options so that you can select the one you prefer. If the product still does not arrive, we would contact the carrier to resolve the problem. In 'about us' - 'FAQ' you will find a link to the tracking information of your shipment. You will also receive an email with the link.
You have 30 days to return it. Once the return has been received and examined, we will proceed with the refund.
We use the best packaging. Even so, more fragile products are shipped with insurance. If the product arrives broken, it will be returned and your money will be refunded.
It is unlikely, since the organic material has been properly treated and is delivered with maintenance instructions. In any case, you have 30 days to return it.
We have several shipping options, some of them express. In any case, if you need a very urgent shipment, contact us and we will do our best to meet your request.
We offer free parking for one hour to customers who make a purchase. It is located at Joan Miró, 65, under Remigia Caubet Square.
We have published business hours that we strive to adhere to. If you do not have time available at that time, you can request a personalized appointment. If you find the store closed during business hours, there is a phone number you can call (+34 630 49 16 72) and it is very likely that we will be there within 5 minutes.
In the physical store we have many more products than on the website and it is worth coming to visit it. If you can't come, contact us. We also accept orders.
At Black Market we are not antique dealers. Nor do we intend to appropriate the different and very diverse cultures that have existed throughout Africa. At Black Market we offer, however, a selection of all the art generated by men and women that, in many cases, we admire and know personally.
Send us a photo of the room you want to decorate and we can offer you suggestions.
You have at your disposal a telephone number (+34 630 491672), whatsapp and a contact form that we will respond within 24 hours.
What others say about us