Equestrian

Equipped with a sheathed dagger, this rider combatively raises a (now missing) javelin in his right hand. His dynamic stance evokes the active role of Dogon leaders as defenders of their communities. That tradition of guardianship goes back to the Dogon’s founding ancestor, Dyon, who journeyed from Mande in modern-day Guinea in search of a new homeland. This figure may portray a hogon, the leader charged with maintaining order by resolving legal disputes and overseeing sacred agricultural rites.