“Dan 2008” expedition

 

During the expedition, two exploratory programmes were realized:

Dogon people from Mali (West Africa) – western society in times of globalization – prepared by Ph.D. Jacek Łapott
Attempt of reconstruction of traditional Kurumb’s house (dan) – prepared by Ph.D. Lucjan Buchalik

 

PURPOSE

During the expedition there was a realization of programme presented during postdoc grant by Ph.D. Jacek Łapott, funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in the confines of agreement nr 2641/B/H03/2008/35. Researches concerning changes of traditional Kurumb’s culture were held and tasks concerning helping Burkina Faso’s inhabitants in Soum province (region Le Sahel), organized and funded by Centre of Mission and Evangelization from Dzięgielów and further researches realization held by the Museum among Kurumb people.

 

AREA OF RESEARCHES

Researches were held on lands inhabited by Dogon people in Mali and Kurumb people in Burkina Faso.

 

EXPLORATORY TIME

This project was realized within 30 months, during which field researches in Mali were held twice. In Sub-Saharan Africa’s savanna, where a year divides into 2 parts – rainy and dry – life of local societies changes dramatically within each of those parts. That is why researches concerning conditions during rainy and dry period were a necessity. Because of that we can observe cultural phenomena.

 

EXPLORATORY TOPICS

Documenting of contemporary image of Dogon’s culture. Registratior of current state for each of 3 geographical lands inhabited by Dogon people (Cliff’s and Bandigara plateau’s, Gondo and Seno flatland) keeping division of seasons of the year ruling daily Dogon’s life (dry and rainy period).
Distinction of differences and changes, which had place in Dogon’s culture while facing image of Dogon’s culture depicted by French ethnologists in the half of XXth century and confrontation with own observations held during researches concerning traditional aspects of culture of this tribe held for 30 years.
Isolation and description of factors gorgonizing traditional culture elements and factors destructive to local culture. Full list of phenomena influencing Dogon’s culture while globalization.

 

EFFECTS OF RESEARCHES

During the expedition several dozen interviews had place.

1067 pictures were taken with Sony DSLR, 610 pictures with Pentax DSLR and 285 with Mamiya 645.

20 hrs of recordings and around 4 hrs on camcorder.

166 exhibits were purchased for museum’s collection.

Reconstruction of traditional Kurumb’s house was made.

 

In this expedition partook:

Ph.D. Jacek Łapott (University of Szczecin)
DSc Maciej Ząbek (University of Warsaw)
Ph.D. Lucjan Buchalik (the Municipal Museum in Żory)
Master degree Katarzyna Podyma (the Municipal Museum in Żory)

Master degree Ewa Prądzyńska (the National Museum in Szczecin).