Page "Dogon people" Paragraph 21

The yingim and the danyim rituals each last a few days.

These events are held annually to honor the elders that have died since the last Dama.

The yingim consists of the sacrifice of cows, or other valuable animals, and large mock battles performed in order to help chase the spirit, known as the nyama, from the deceased body and village and towards the path to the afterlife ( Davis, 68 ).

The danyim then takes place a couple of months later.

During the danyim, masqueraders perform dances every morning and evening for anytime up to six days depending on how that village performs this ritual.

The masqueraders dance on the deceased ’ s rooftops, throughout the village, and the area of fields around the village ( Davis, 68 ).

Until the masqueraders have completed their dances and every ritual has been performed, it is said that any misfortune can be blamed on the remaining spirits of the dead ( Davis, 68 ).