GHANA, TOGO & BENIN INCLUDING ANNUAL VOODOO FESTIVAL, JANUARY 2020

In 1996, the government of Benin decreed that Voodoo was an official voodoo a religion practiced by more than 60% of Benin’s over 10 million residents.

For millions of Beninese, voodoo is an integral part of everyday life. It does have a dark side- and you cannot avoid the many voodoo dolls riddled with pins and nails. Ouidah is the spiritual capital of voodoo and was once a major slave trading port.

On January 10 every year, ceremonies and festivities take place on the beach near the monument dedicated to the Place of No Return. Thousands of voodoo believers and adherents in Ouidah, the historic center of Voodoo religion come to receive blessings from Ouidah’s voodoo chief. This is one of Benin’s most colorful and spectacular events.

The celebrations begin when the supreme voodoo priest slaughters an animal, usually a goat to honor the spirits. This is followed by singing, chanting, dancing, beating of drums and drinking of various spirits usually gin. The area is temporarily Benin’s yearly Woodstock.