New initiative of the ‘Pro Mali’ Committee

Following the good results achieved in previous years, this year the Pro Mali Committee once again wants to organise another charity initiative, to build childbirth assistance structures in the Dogon Country and a nursery school in Mopti, in Mali.

For this purpose an exhibition of photographs, pictures and ethnic jewellery was organised a few months ago in the Sala del Baraccano (Via Santo Stefano, 119 - Bologna).  During the event people could contribute to the project by purchasing calendars offered by the Committee.


In the Dogon villages
The Dogon Country covers a vast territory south of Timbuktu (MALI-WEST AFRICA), which extends in part along a 180-kilometre escarpment called the Bandiagara Escarpment.  There are various myths and legends about the origins of the Dogons, a particularly mysterious and fascinating people.  The most popular legend says that the Dogon people came originally from the area of Manding.

When they arrived on the Bandiagara escarpment they found another legendary people, the Telem, from whom they learned the art of living on the escarpment, thus remaining unaffected by all other cultural currents. Still today, their religion is a distinguishing trait, and in fact their whole life is based on ancient animist traditions. The hogon is the spiritual leader and is in charge of justice.  Their civilisation was only discovered seventy years ago by the anthropologist Marcel Griaule, and is studied for its models of life and for its examples of refined African art such as the masks used in funeral rituals. Today there are about three hundred thousand Dogon people, living in small villages made up of a few mud huts.  They have no electricity, no running water, little livestock, and the inaccessible nature of the land means that they grow millet, onions and not much else.


‘Pro Mali’ Committee:
Giuseppe Gardenghi
Patrizia Lorenzelli tel. 338/3495334
Vincent Togo
Mauro Trentini
Luigi Vannini