Observations placeholder
Ogotommeli - The Smith
Identifier
004919
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
An indication – though vague – that early sexual stimulation methods for obtaining spiritual experience were later replaced by drums and drumming.
A description of the experience
Conversations with Ogotommeli (An Introduction to Dogon Religious ideas) – Professor Marcel Griaule
The smith, inventor of the first rhythm of resurrection, found other rhythms corresponding to new dance figures. Anvil and bellows were combined in this work, but they were soon symbolically represented in the basic concord of instruments; …… drums replaced bellows, iron hand bells the anvil, and drumsticks the hammer. At first only smiths beat the drums, but gradually others took their place.