DOGON, a light-skinned patrilineal people of medium stat ure (also known as Habe) in the Bandiagara highland and Hom bori hills districts of the French Sudan. Their language, with many dialects, is related to Mandinga. The villages are independent and ruled by an elected sacerdotal headman (Hogon), assisted by a council of elders and dignitaries (sera). In certain groups girls belong to their maternal uncle. The family estate is first inherited by the brother of the deceased who succeeds to the family head ship. Personal property (according to its male or female char acter) passes to the son or daughter. They are excellent husband men, do some cattle-raising, are animists and offer seasonal sacrifices, with, quite recently, human victims. Each village is protected by a sacred animal. There are traces of totemism and the dead are placed in cliff caverns.
See Arnaud, "Notes sur les montagnards Habe des Cercles de Bandiagara et de Hombori (Soudan Francais)," Revue d'Ethnogr. et Trad. pop. (1921).