Space Dogon villages on the Bandiagar ledge

In the southwestern part of the Republic of Mali, in the middle of the savannah, there is a granite plateau with steep slopes, the area of which is almost 400 thousand hectares. Sandstone cliffs stretch for 150 kilometers, sometimes reaching a height of 600 meters. This is Bandiagara, the place where the Dogon live. Here, right on the talus, in the most miraculous way about 700 villages were located, in which approximately 300 thousand Dogon live. Marvelous rock architecture is represented mainly by dwellings and granaries. In addition, you can see altars, shrines, workshops, funerary structures and places for public gatherings. Bandiagara is one of the most significant places in West Africa, and since 1989 it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In general, the Highlands of Bandiagar were inhabited by people for 2000 years and even more. Initially, the Dogon lived on the territory of the current states of Burkina Faso and Ghana, but there they were often subjected to raids by neighboring Islamic tribal groups. Then, at the beginning of the 15th century, the peace-loving tribe decided to change the place of their existence and take refuge among the rocks of Bandiagara. However, by the time they arrived, it turned out that the local places were already inhabited by the Pygmy tribe of the tribe. However, people were able to come to an agreement, so that both peoples divided the shelter, having lived in peace and harmony for many years, until gradually assimilated with the television into the culture of the Dogon.

Dogons are an amazing people. The basis of their entire way of life is a very complex abstract cosmogony. According to the tribe, the Universe is inhabited by a variety of living creatures, and plants were the first to appear in it. So, the seeds of pumpkin and sorrel, before being on our planet, "lay on the edge of the Milky Way" and "sprouted in all the worlds of the Universe." Dogon also believe that in other lands there are people with horns and tails, and some even know how to fly.