Voodoo Festival of the Benin Republic.
by Chidiebele Ojuanu Oyinbusola.
Voodoo, or Vodun, is an indigenous and official religion and a core part of the Benin culture and identity, originating from the Kingdom of Dahomey (present-day Republic of Benin). It is rooted in animism, the belief that everything has a spirit. Voodoo is more than a belief system, encompassing culture, philosophy, language, art, dance, music, and medicine with about 40% of the population practicing it.
The word “voodoo” means “soul” or “strength” in Fon, the language of the Benin people. The Voodoo spiritual world includes Mahou, the supreme being, and about 100 divinities called “Voodoos” who represent different phenomena. Voodoo is a fragmented religion divided into independent cult units devoted to particular spirits.
The Republic of Benin hosts an annual Voodoo festival, drawing visitors to it’s capital, Porto-Novo and highlighting the religion’s importance. Worshippers gather in places like Ouidah, a former slave trading hub, to pay respects to deities, particularly Mami Wata, the sea goddess. Ouidah is a significant site for Voodoo and is also known as the religious capital, where people can visit the temple of the pythons. It also played a role in the history of the slave trade, with the Route des Esclaves (the Slave Route) tracing the final walk of slaves to the Atlantic coast. The Gate of No Return marks the final steps of slaves towards the waiting ships.
Rituals are often performed by Voodoo priests to ward off evil spirits, overcome illness and achieve personal and professional success. Voodoo has spread beyond Benin, with its traditions influencing African diasporic religions like Haitian Voodoo, Cuban Santería, and Brazilian Candomblé. The festival is a celebration of a religion, an ancient religion followed by millions in Benin and abroad, particularly in the Caribbean.
In Benin, when a problem seems unsolvable, a feticheur (voodoo priest) may demand the sacrifice of an animal – such as an ox, sheep, goat, or chicken – to empower the fetish and solve the issue. The blood of the sacrificed animal is poured onto the fetish to invoke its power.
The streets of Benin are dotted with fetishes and shrines, but none is as revered as the Dankoli fetish. Renowned for its extraordinary power, this fetish attracts pilgrims from neighboring countries like Togo, Nigeria, and Ghana, as well as from distant lands like Brazil and the Caribbean.
Traditionally, voodoo shrines are situated near ancient iroko trees, which are believed to possess supernatural powers. The Dankoli fetish is so potent that devotees can communicate directly with the gods without intermediaries, followers can perform rituals and make requests to the divine.
The Dankoli fetish consists of two earthy tombs; one male, one female – adorned with wooden pallets smeared with fat, blood, palm oil, feathers, eggs, and rotting bones. Rituals involve climbing the mound barefoot, inserting a wooden peg and offering prayers. Palm oil is then poured over a gin-like liquor, which is spat upon.
Nearby, two holes in the ground – “the twins” – serve as additional fetishes for prayers and requests. One is dedicated to fertility, while the other is for those seeking twins. In a nod to the region’s agricultural heritage, where twins were seen as a blessing, devotees pour palm oil into these holes to ask for twins.
When prayers are answered, devotees return to the fetish with offerings, typically sacrificing a hen and pouring its blood onto the fetish. For more significant requests, like healing, a goat or ox may be sacrificed, with the meat distributed among those protecting the fetish.
Voodoo is often demonized in the West, but it’s considered normal and a fundamental part of Beninese culture. The festival is a chance to learn about and understand the culture of communion with the land and the elements. When visiting Benin, it is important to be respectful of Voodoo traditions and rituals and avoid taking photographs without permission.
