Connecting “Ourselves”: A Dogon Ethnic Association and the Impact of Connectivity

Abstract

Connectivity is a state of mind, also for Mamadou Togo, the president of Ginna Dogon (Big House of the Dogon), the ethnic association that represents the Dogon people of Mali. He happily receives me in his government office in Mali where he has a senior position in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It could be said that there are at least three types of offices for Malian civil servants. One has an office with very sparse furniture, just dusty filing cabinets and a few books that are quite clearly never consulted or even moved, and some folders on a desk that demand attention. People walk in and out of the door and the person whose office it is chats with others, talking on the phone more than writing and certainly talking more than reading. The simple sturdy metal chairs for visitors are stacked on top of each other, the paint on the walls is old, and there is no air-conditioning. The second kind of office is that of someone who has made it: a sumptuous air-conditioned office dominated by a large conference table with impressive but surprisingly uncomfortable chairs, a splendid desk that is almost completely empty but is well polished and clean. In the corner of the “salon” is a flat screen TV as all football matches have to be monitored officially. This office has white imitation-leather couches in the office itself but also in the waiting area attached to it. These are for the guests who will need to wait till the official is ready to greet them.