Trip to Benin: Voodoo Festival and northern tribes

Discover the highlights of this trip to Benin

► We will delve into Voodoo culture and religion

We will attend the Ouidah Voodoo Festival

During the Ouidah Voodoo Festival (African capital of voodoo), we will witness a multitude of rituals, dances and different cultural events. We will witness different traditional dances that the locals will perform, such as those of Egungun, Zangbeto and Gelede. Also, we will visit the sacred forest and the temple of the pythons, located in front of the French colonial cathedral.

We will visit different Voodoo sanctuaries and temples

In the area near Lake Aheme, one of the most conservative regions of Benin, we can find many voodoo sanctuaries. We will make a stop in the town of Bopa to meet the priest Shangó in his temple, where we will experience a powerful ritual.

► We will meet different traditional tribes of Benin

Taneka tribe

During this trip to Benin, we will take an excursion to enter Taneka tribal territory. This people is originally from Togo and emigrated to these hills, fleeing Islamic expansion and slavery. They live spread across 3 towns and, currently, only one of them still lives in these hills. We will take a walk through Taneka Beri, Taneka Koko and we will reach the blacksmiths’ village and the royal enclosure, located at the top of the mountain.

Ditamari people

On this trip to Benin, we will have the opportunity to visit a Ditamari community and admire their exclusive two-story adobe cabins, known as “Tatas”. Ditamari people still scarify their chest and face with a special knife during the dry season.

Tofi tribe

We will visit the lake city of Ganvié, the mythical “African Venice”. We will tour this large town of houses on stilts inhabited by the Tofi ethnic group, who have lived on the lake since the 18th century.

► We will visit Abomey, historical capital of the kingdom of Dahomey

During this trip we will tour the streets of Abomey, the royal city of Benin. We will visit this historic capital of the kingdom of Dahomey and the royal palaces and museums that are world heritage sites. We will delve into the history of this fascinating kingdom.

© Photos by Jordi Zaragozà Anglès, Ingrid Koedood, Aníbal BuenoandXavi de las Heras during trip to Benin.

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