The Dogon myths also define a second thread of
biological symbolism describing the formation of life
from a fertilized egg, which can be seen to run paral-
lel to actual biological science. The myths describe
the hardening of an unfertilized egg that occurs at
the moment of fertilization by a sperm and include
descriptions of structures that resemble chromo-
somes and spindles and that seem to accurately
describe key events that pertain to the division of a
cell through the processes of meiosis and mitosis.
Laird ScrantonSeealsoAgricultural Rites; Cosmology; Creation
Further Readings
Griaule, M. (1970).Conversations With Ogotemmeli.
London: Oxford University Press.
Griaule, M., & Dieterlen, G. (1986).The Pale Fox.
Durham, NC: Continuum Foundation. (Originally
published in French asLe renard paleby l’Institut
d’Ethnologie, Paris, 1965)
Hawking, S. W. (1988).A Brief History of Time.
Toronto, ON: Bantam Books.
Scranton, L. (2006).The Science of the Dogon.
Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions.
Snodgrass, A. (1992).The Symbolism of the Stupa.
Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.
Van Beek, W. (2001).Dogon. New York: Harry N. Abrams.
DREAMS
Dreams are one of the many ways communication
occurs between humans and spirits, so many
Africans look to dreams for guidance in everyday
affairs. Direct appearances of ancestors in dreams
reflect their power and wisdom. Those with ances-
tors of less wisdom or spiritual power receive
guidance in more general symbolic dreams. There
are individuals who specialize in interpreting such
dreams, although they may not hold formal titles
or be a priest or priestess. Much information on
dreams exists as part of the rich oral tradition of
Africa, but in parts of Muslim Africa, there are
written sources on dreams.
Dreams are not just experienced by humans;
deities dream as well. In the creation story of the
San, the deity Kaggen dreams, and what is dreamt
appears as creation. Among the Shona of
Zimbabwe, the first human, Musikavanhu,
dreams about birds and animals; when he awak-
ens, they are reality.
In ancient Egypt, dreams were held to commu-
nicate the will of the gods and clues to future
events. The Chester Beatty Papyrus III, dating to
1300 BC or perhaps even earlier, describes several
dreams and their interpretations. In addition, a
scene on the stelae in front of the Great Sphinx
depict king Thutmose IV, who reigned from
1400–1390 BC, having a dream that legitimized
his claim to the throne as does another stelae
erected at the Temple to Amen at Napata by
Kushite pharaoh Tanutamani who reigned from
664–656. Beginning in 747 BC, individuals would
sleep in temples so information would be revealed
to them in dreams, which would then be inter-
preted by priests of the temple.
The Batonga of Zambia also consider dreams
important and place emphasis on shifts of feeling,
space, and time within the dream and opposites.
To dream something pleasant and then a friend
interrupts, but then goes away, and the dream con-
tinues indicates that the “friend” in the dream means
to cheat you in some way. A pleasant dream with
no change in feeling indicates misfortune. To
dream inside of a dream is considered a teaching
dream and is rare. It means information will be
revealed that must be kept secret. Meanings given
to common dream symbols include snakes as
ancestral spirits, the color red as death, white as
lucky, and the moon meaning the dream will come
true and relates to money. Interestingly, among the
ancient Egyptians, a dream about drinking warm
beer was an omen that the person would undergo
something bad. Among the Batonga, to dream of
drinking beer is symbolic of witchcraft.
Not all cultures have elaborate dealings with
dreams, but still regard them with importance.
Among the Akamba, dreams are divided into two
categories: good and bad. If the dream is bad, a
smoldering ember is placed in a small half gourd
filled with water that is accompanied by a prayer
to not let the dream manifest. If the dream is
good, the half gourd is filled with milk and water
and accompanied by a request to the ancestors to
send the good things in the dream as the liquid is
poured on the ground.220 Dreams