The Crocodile and the Water Spirits

The Nommo were the primordial ancestral spirits who brought water, language, and order to the earth. They are often depicted as androgynous, fish-like beings. The crocodile is considered one of their most important earthly representatives. A story tells of a village that was suffering from a terrible drought because the people had offended the Nommo spirits. The village diviner told the people they had to make a sacrifice. They brought a goat to the riverbank, but the river was dry. As they prayed, a single, enormous Crocodile emerged from the mud. It did not attack them. Instead, it led them on a long journey to a hidden spring deep within a cave they had never seen before. This spring saved the village. From that day on, the crocodile was revered as a sacred animal, a messenger from the Nommo who could guide humans to the life-giving power of water, even when it was hidden. In many Dogon villages, crocodiles are considered protected and are fed by the community.