Witchcraft is a state of possession, sometimes voluntary, by non-human forces that can cause much harm. Magic forms an enormous part of daily Beninese life and is likely to be your enduring memory of the country. As in many African and Asian cultures, snakes are an object of veneration as well as fear. In Benin, about 20 percent of the population adheres to Voodoo as a religion. Visit Africa with us! Xevioso is very much praised in villages and hold rituals and ceremonies in praise of him. This animistic religion has over 50 million followers in West Africa. Originally created to scare the enemy away, Zangbeto will wander around the streets to detect thieves and witches, and to provide law and order. Voodoo History Basic Principles Background. Magic is most commonly used as a way of communicating with spirits in order to ask for help in the protection or curing of a person. Fascinating as all of this is to read, what you really want to do is get out there and see it for yourself. The more violent Egunguns (called agbanon) can often be differentiated from the mellower ones (called weduto) by having some kind of impressive structure on their heads. Nevertheless, Voodoo is still a rather misunderstood religion due to its inaccurate portrayal by the media. Benin is the place where the Voodoo, or vodu, was born and today is the official religion of the country; voodoo means “soul” or “strength” in Fon, and at the time of the Kingdom of Dahomey it has had its maximum development and has remained unaltered over the centuries, although in the period of the European colonization this religion is said to have been demonized. These appear to come in all manner of shapes and forms: I have seen Zangbetos which are in miniature, or only knee-high, and another with a massive, moving, penis! Instead Beninese magic is of religious significance and is also used for healing, although as the gods are requested to help in such operations it’s very much intertwined with religious beliefs. It involves a pantheon of gods and … To the uninitiated this roadside shrine may just resemble a rotting, stinking pile of organic rubbish and blood, but don’t be fooled, for the Dankoli fetish is rumoured to be the strongest and most powerful fetish in the country. Egunguns are a type of Yoruba ancestor veneration and an Egungun is the most frequently seen spirit in Benin. Also the Benin country have clusters of spiritual rituals that are almost accentual it seems for the peoples pleasing of their many gods, which have been studied on the page Rituals . Vodun art is associated with the West African Vodun religion of Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana.The term is sometimes used more generally for art associated with related religions of West and Central Africa and of the African diaspora in Brazil, the Caribbean and the United States. Legba or Elegba, Eshu, Ellegua. The voodoo deities are trusted and respected. The official 10 January events are well organised and generally stick closely to the schedule, clustering mainly on the beach around the Gate of No Return. Fetishes and shrines abound along the streets of Benin, but no one is as famous and powerful as the Dankoli fetish; this is, in fact, the most important and powerful fetish of Africa and it is a very popular pilgrimage site; in fact there are many people coming here from neighboring countries such as Togo, Nigeria and Ghana, but also from far-away countries such as Brazil and the Caribbean. In the Fon language, the world ''voodoo… He speaks all human languages and is always the first god or loa to be invoked in Voodoo ceremonies. Voodoo, contrary to what we Westerners are led to think, has a positive value and relationship with gods usually takes place in order to propitiate their favors and to achieve happiness and prosperity. Voodoo, which in Fon language means "spirit" is the spiritual force that lies within all the expressions of nature. Savalou likes to claim that it is the beating heart of Voodoo in Benin and, as such, should almost be considered a compulsory stop on the road north. It is most visible in the amulets, charms and mangled-up animal parts of the fetish markets. Voodoo … You name it – it’s here. In particular, Ouidah's feticheurs enjoy great reputation and the Temple of the Pythons, despite its small size, represents one of … Where, when, why: In December, I traveled to Benin for two weeks to study Vodun, the ancient animistic religion of West Africa that is the source of voodoo practiced in Haiti and Louisiana. Art forms include bocio, carved wooden statues that represent supernatural beings and may be … Loa are the main spirits of voodoo. Voodoo folloowers divide godly creatures into loa Rada and loa Petro. We even saw elephant skin, lion skulls and what might have been a small chimpanzee head. Confidence recognized in the country even has its own holiday. Benin is unique in recognising voodoo as an official religion, followed by two-thirds of its 7.6 million people. The biggest religion of Benin, Voodoo has over 50 million believers in West Africa and further huge followings in parts of the Caribbean, South America and even some regions of the southern United States. Benin is one of only two countries in the world where Voodoo is the official religion – the other being Haiti, in the Caribbean. The priests of Voodoo are, like the priests of Christianity or the Mullahs of Islam, ritual leaders who oversee most religious matters and ceremonies. Lots of tour groups are in town for the event and at the merest hint of something magical taking place, crowds of tourists and interested locals rush over to see what’s happening. Though it’s all a bit of a tourist trap these days, it’s still a religious site and the snakes (harmless Royal Pythons) are used in the Voodoo ceremonies held here. The rituals and ceremonies of the voodoo religion in Benin | … Coming back from the realm of the dead as a ghost is one thing and (apparently) not that hard, but coming back in a physical form in which you can touch and talk to living humans is another thing altogether and only really likely if the spirit takes on the form of an Egungun. The gods are so close here that you don’t even need a priest to act as a middleman between you and them. Basic Beliefs: Bondye, Lwa, and Vilokan. In Haiti, for example, he is called Bondye, which comes from the French bon dieu, meaning "good god." It’s said that anything you ask for will come true within a year. Others have their future revealed to them by being possessed by a spirit, while some just go off to train into the job – this last applies especially to children, who are submitted to the guidance of an established priest and shown the ways of Voodoo. In Cotonou, Benin's largest city, the tourist office told me to return in January, because I'd only see Voodoo at an annual festival in Ouidah offering choreographed ceremonies for Benin's trickle of largely French tourists. Because of this, most religious figures are in some way or another gifted with magical powers that can be used for both good and bad purposes. It's a week that brings together priests and dignitaries, rich and poor, locals and visitors from as far afield as the Caribbean and France. One of the cornerstones of Voodoo is the Loa. The Dankoli fetish is said to be so powerful that the voodoo followers who come here can communicate directly with the gods without the help of the vodounon, initiated of the voodoo religion; here the adepts can carry out the rituals themselves and make their requests and prayers to the divinities. However, as is normal, finding these events is really a matter of chance (or good local contacts). Voodoo and fetishes are part of everyday life for Benin residents, most of whom have fetishes that guard and protect access to villages, markets and homes. • Ajayi, J.F. Once he has occupied his human ‘shell’ it’s not at all unusual for the spirit to have a bit of fun with his new toy and make the body dance in a manic fashion for hours on end, or make it cut or injure itself. Benin is the spiritual home of voodoo, a religion that spread from Benin to Haiti and parts of America during the slave trade. on Pinterest. Alongside zombies and sacrifices the thing most of us immediately associate with Voodoo is people in a trance, eyes rolled back into their heads, speaking incomprehensible languages with their bodies possessed by spirits or gods. They also dispense justice, which for very serious crimes could in the past have involved the death sentence. This deity is known as Bondye, "the good god" . Many people actually try to hide or run away from them, particularly as some Egunguns can become very violent – though if the Egungun has a message for you he will track you down whatever. Not surprisingly, the whole experience of meeting an Egungun is a slightly spooky and stressful event for most foreigners and Beninese alike. If the problem is very difficult to solve, the feticheur often requires the sacrifice of an ox, a sheep, a goat or a chicken whose blood needs to be poured on the fetish to give him the necessary powers and strength to solve the problem. Trance is brought on in Voodoo ceremonies through the beat of drums and other musical instruments playing repetitively over and over again until finally the god or spirit is summoned and enters into a human body. A Loa is a Voodoo spirit that aids the practitioner in life, including with success, sexuality, spirituality, protection, healing and even in death. Although known as a royal city, Abomey is a pleasant place to enjoy a day peering into the recesses of the market and discovering small Voodoo shrines squirreled away up dusty side streets. Bondye. If the request was particularly important, such as healing from a disease, the offer would have to be bigger and a goat or an ox would be sacrificed; the meat of these animals is then consumed and distributed to people who are protecting the fetish. Legba is the most powerful of all voodoo divinities. Usually voodoo shrines are placed near roko trees, these very hardwood trees, are endemic to tropical West Africa and can live up to 500 years; people believe they are endowed with supernatural powers and consider them sacred. It is not such a strict... Loa Rada. The importance of giving birth to twins is a legacy of the peasant society where two extra arms were very useful, still people pour palm oil inside these two holes in the ground to ask to be pregnant with two twins . … We pass the symbolic representations of many gods in the Vodoun religion, including Esu Elegba and Oya. Monkey heads, dried pangolins, leopard skins and an aviary of shrivelled birds. Although celebrations now take place in many towns across southern Benin (Grand-Popo is another good bet), the main event is held in Ouidah. You will be pleased to know that witches are very common in Benin and you have a fairly good chance of meeting one. In Voodoo, the Supreme Creator is distant from our world and humanity, and doesn’t interfere with it directly. The giving up of something valuable or precious is the surest way of catching a god’s ear. Another god that is very important to poeple in Benin is the god called Xevioso, and this godis the godof thunder, rain, and fertility. We will make you live an unforgettable experience! Contact with the gods And how will you know what it is that you are actually witnessing? The spinning movement of the mask symbolizes the spiritual cleaning of the village and Zangbeto … Those interested in Voodoo culture shouldn’t miss the fetish market, just a short way outside of the town centre – it’s one of the biggest and goriest in the country. In Ouidah, a small town and former slave port in the West African country of Benin, the annual voodoo festival gathers visitors from far and wide. What makes Benin most interesting for tourists is its main religion, Voodoo. Voodoo followers from other part of Africa arriving at Voodoo festival in Ouidah,Benin. A fetish is a statue or an object that contains in itself supernatural powers, its powers derive from the consecration rite that is carried out by spreading the fetish of some substances while reciting some prayers and offering sacrifices. We hope the following information will help in those tricky cases when you are trying to work out if it’s an Egungun or a Zangbeto bearing menacingly down on you. In Voodoo the snake represents the god Da, Dan or Dangbe, who is the bringer of life and fertility and the favourite god of Ouidah. and Espie, I. Learn more about the fascinating world of Voodoo in our comprehensive guide: © 2021 Bradt Guides. You will, however, be disappointed to learn that Beninese witches do not go in for the cliché of buzzing about on broomsticks very much. The fetish, indeed the fetishes, a male and a female, are earthy tombs that support innumerable wooden pallets covered with fat, blood, palm oil, hen feathers, eggs and rotting bones and lean against two sacred trees . The supreme god is Nana-Buluku, Originator and creator of the beginning. Gods, ghosts and dead people: an introduction to Voodoo in Benin But where are the best places to witness Voodoo culture in Benin? Even then you should go very carefully and seek the permission of everyone around you before attempting to take a picture. Prolonged parties and January spiritual ceremonies in the country of Benin, West Africa, are common. Almost as common as the Egunguns, and increasingly easy to see due to their habit of putting on public ‘performances’ during celebrations (or even paid-for tourist events), the Zangbetos, or Night Watchmen, act as an unofficial police force patrolling the streets and tracking down perpetrators of crimes whom they publicly denounce to the community. The Loa as Guardians. According to the Voodoo tradition, there is one supreme god, who is known by different names in different parts of the world. If you want to be sure of seeing some Voodoo ceremonies and celebrations, then this is a good time to be in Ouidah; however, don’t expect to be the only tourist on the prowl for local colour. Chickens and goats are the most frequently sacrificed creatures, though you’ll see your fair share of cute puppies and kittens meet their makers as well. Whatever you do when you first see an Egungun, you must not rush over and start taking pictures – this is certain to land you in very deep trouble. The Loa, or spirits with whom Vodouisants work and practice, are not gods but servants of the Supreme Creator Bondye (pronounced Bon Dieu). An animistic religion whose roots stretch back thousands of years, its name means ‘god’, ‘spirit’ or ‘power’ in the Fon language; and its followers believe not in the clichés of the living dead, but instead in the power of nature and the natural forces that course through everything. Your chance of an encounter is quite high. Followers of Vodou -- known as Vodouisants -- believe in a single, supreme godhead that can be equated with the Catholic God. The faithfuls who meet their demands have to come back to the fetish and bring an offer to thank the gods, usually they make a ritual sacrifice gagging a hen and pouring blood on the fetish. Rainbows are another symbol of Da and all over the temple you will see pictures of bright rainbows alongside snakes. In the past centuries, voodoo was born in the region between Abomey and Ouidah in Benin; these rituals are still practiced today and nearly 80% of the nation's population professes this religion and Benin's feticheurs are very powerful and very respected. See more ideas about Almighty allah, Vodou, Voodoo. The amount of African wildlife parts on sale here is quite incredible. They can be men or women but men predominate. The ritual consists in climbing barefoot the cumulation and constricting a wooden peg in the mound while saying prayers and requests to gods are made, once the bait is fixed in the cumulation of earth, palm oil is poured over a kind of gin, that is distilled from manioc or the sodabe, a liqueur made by distilling palm oil, is spit on it. Find out here our itineraries. Experienced priests and village elders can slip in and out of trance barely noticed, and it’s often only their glazed or rolled-back eyes that give the game away. It might not, financially, seem like a lot to you or me, but for the vast majority of African village families a chicken is a significant sacrifice. The term “Voodoo” comes from the term Vodou which translates to “God” or “spirit”, which came from Benin, Africa. "Thousand Years of West African History" (Ibadan: Ibadan University Press, 1967). Though you may well meet one, it’s really best to try to avoid them, because witchcraft is considered one of the biggest forms of misfortune in Benin and witches are feared, loathed and respected. Jul 17, 2019 - Explore Howardcoles's board "Very good almighty Allah destroy voodoo Gods for eternity." They act as an intermediary between the Supreme Creator (called Bondye – from the French words Bon Dieu, meaning Good God.) Voodoo is based around the belief in gods and spirits, and it's very peril that these gods are pleased. The word 'vodun' — the Haitian word 'Voodoo' comes from the African Fon Language which is... Loa Rada and Loa Petro. Maybe most importantly magic helps to explain those tricky patches between the known human world and the unknown and often bizarre world of ghosts and gods. He gave birth to Mawu-Lisa who completed creation and gave birth to other gods. The more rewarding aspects of the festival, however, are the non-scripted, side events, as these are when more gritty and authentic Voodoo ceremonies are more likely to be seen. Instead it’s safer just to tag along some distance behind the Egungun and wait, if you dare, for it to turn its attention to you. The belief that everything is spirit, including humans, is a central tenet in voodoo which combines different elements such as medicine and philosophy. The word Voodoo, variously known as Vodou, Vodun, and Vodoun, originated among the Fon people of Benin. All sorts of calamities are put down to witchcraft – disease, illness, crop failures, death and the inability to conceive a child are just some of the more common signs that a witch has been at work. However, from personal experience I have seen Zangbetos a number of times and during their peak of dancing about like a spinning top they have either fallen over or, more commonly, been tipped over by their assistants to reveal a totally hollow interior with nobody inside them (and no way of anyone hiding within them) and, on the ground, just a small, moving wooden statue. The one place that you can be certain of experiencing the blood and gore of Hollywood-style Voodoo is at the immensely strong Dankoli fetish, a few kilometres out of town. Another place that Voodoo is widely practised is in New Orleans in the state of Louisiana in the USA. The one time of the year when more than a handful of tourists are in Benin is during the Fête du Vaudou, which takes place on 10 January. For most people this is the most fascinating side of Voodoo or any other traditional African culture. At times you could be forgiven for thinking that everyone you meet is a magician, but this is no frivolous pulling-white-rabbits-out-of-hats type of magic. Benin: Voodoo festival in Ouidah - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi, Wild flower in Pendjari National Park - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi, Benin: Adja people - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi, Ouidah fort -Photo Credits: Romina Facchi, Ouidah: Voodoo festival - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi, Benin: Ouidah - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi, Testi e immagini © Exploring Africa - 2021, Africa's Most Successful Conservation Projects, The rituals and ceremonies of the voodoo religion in Benin. Sacrifices are all that most of us know of Voodoo and, yes, they are an everyday occurrence in Benin. He is the guardian of the door of the spirits so it is only through Legba that it’s possible to contact other gods. Voodoo claims a prominent place in the identity of Benin where the pantheon of gods includes more than 300 deities. The fetishes are then decorated with some materials including horns, shells, nails, feathers, mirrors, metal, string, varnishes, cloth, raffia, fur, beads and herbs; also often on the fetish eggs are broken; all these elements have the goal of adding power to the fetish. People become priests through either vocation or training – some are even called by the gods at birth. There are about 100 other voodoo divinities who all represent different phenomena. An unique God (Mawu), creator of all things, is manifested to the world through multiple deities, representing the spirits of the ancestors and the forces of nature. Benin people have very distinct practices in Voodoo and uphold hundreds of years of voodoo practice traditions, which will be explained in the page Voodoo Practice. LEGBA – The sun god and intermediary between the gods and humanity. In Benin and Haiti, Voodoo is now officially recognized as a religion. At a voodoo ceremony, believers gather outdoors to make contact with the Loa, any of a pantheon of spirits who have various functions running the universe, much like Greek gods. Nearby two holes in the ground, called "the twins", are other fetishes where to address their prayers, one is dedicated to fertility in general while the other is to ask for twins. Owing to the secrecy surrounding the Zangbeto societies it’s hard to know exactly what is inside a Zangbeto. This can be a very difficult time for them as they live in isolation from their family and must speak only in the special language used by Voodoo initiates. Mesmerising St Helena: The five best postbox walks on the island. Some people would go as far as to call the Loa gods themselves. It certainly makes for an arresting sight; however, there is a lot more to it than that. Mawu-Lisa has a male and female personification--Mawu the female and Lisa the male. Vodou is a monotheistic religion. While Voodoo certainly isn't fiction here, witnessing it in action seems unlikely at first. However, don’t get too excited about the thought of zombies roaming the streets and sorcerers stirring cauldrons. Colorful party for the God. It is through Legba that loa move back and forth from the realm of the gods in Guinee to the mortal world to possess worshippers. The early origins of Voodoo, also spelled Vodou, Voudou, and Voudon, likely came from the West African country of Dahomey, now called Benin. indigenous Taino peoples of Haiti. Taking travel seriously since 1974. Bondye is the creator god found in the Voodoo religion, and the loa answer to him. You simply speak directly with the spirits who will pass on your messages and requests. So what exactly is a witch? It’s very likely that you will be offered the opportunity to purchase some kind of minor magic such as a charm. A hierarchy of gods exists. There are certainly a lot of religious and magical people in the neighbourhood, but it’s largely all kept hidden from prying eyes. Fetishes propitiate health, happiness, and problem solutions; each fetish has its role, some in fact serve as protection from evil spirits, others serve to propitiate healing, others to bring happiness and fertility to the family. Fon Pantheon or Vodun is the gods and goddesses of the Fon or Dahomey people. Most people assume that there is simply a person in a trance within one and quite possibly that is often the case. Although you may look on them as nothing but an exciting picture opportunity they are in fact extremely important events, of vital symbolism. Even you, as a visiting foreigner, could fall into a trance and be possessed by the spirits, but as you won’t know how to deal with the situation it’s probably best to avoid the possibility. Benin is the place where the Voodoo, or vodu, was born and today is the official religion of the country; voodoo means "soul" or "strength" in Fon, and at the time of the Kingdom of Dahomey it has had its maximum development and has remained unaltered over the centuries, thanks also to the dignitaries of the cult who have been able to perpetrate the rituals and ceremonies, although in the period of the European colonization this religion has been demonized.