Chez les Dogon l'architecture, l'organisation sociale et la religion sont indissociables. Les différents types de constructions qui forment un village vont de pair avec les cultes qui régissent la vie religieuse.

La Ginna (associée au culte du Wagem) : C'est le siège du lignage patrilinéaire. C'est la maison du fondateur du village. Ses successeurs tiendront, chacun, le rôle de chef de la grande famille, le "Ginna Bana". Un grand village est constitué de plusieurs quartiers. Dans ce cas chaque quartier a sa propre Ginna. Il s'agit d'une construction à deux étages : le "Ginna Bana" habite au rez-de-chaussé, au 1er étage est entreposé le mil appartenant à la grande famille et sur la terrasse se trouve l'autel des ancêtres, le "Wagem". C'est un ensemble de poteries. Chaque poterie correspond à un ancêtre : celle du fondateur, de ses successeurs et de tous les hommes du village ou du quartier. Le culte du Wagem permet aux hommes de maintenir un dialogue avec leurs ancêtres directs. C'est ainsi qu'à l'occasion des fêtes agraires (semailles & récoltes) des membres de la famille feront des sacrifices sur l'autel. Le Ginna Bana est responsable du culte. Les femmes défuntes ne font pas parties de l'autel du Wagem. Elles ont leur autel à part.

In Dogon country architecture, social organisation and religion cannot be dissociated. The various types of buildings that form a village go together with the cults which govern religious life.

The Ginna (associated with the Wagem cult) : The house of the founder of the village is the center of the extended patrilineal family. The successors in direct descent of the founder are the lineage elders. The eldest is head of the "extended" family namely, the "Ginna Bana". In case a village is made up of several quarters, then each quarter has its own "Ginna". It is a two-storeyed building : the "Ginna Bana" lives on the groundfloor, the 1st floor is a granary store for the extended family and the ancestor altar, the "Wagem", is located on the roof terrace. This altar consists in a set of bowls. Each bowl represents an ancestor. The founder, his successors and the other men of the village all have their own bowl which serves as a receptacle for their souls. The purpose of the "Wagem" cult is for men to stay in contact and maintain a dialogue with their direct ancestors. On the occasion of agricultural rites (sowing & harvesting) family members will make sacrifices on the altar. The "Ginna Bana" is in charge of the cult. Deceased women do not make part of the "Wagem" altar. They have a separate altar.