Pythons, preserved skulls and voodoo ceremonies drew us from ghana to benin, the birthplace of voodoo. History early history little is known about the history of n benin. The term voodoo, in fact, literally means spirit in the local fon language of modern day benin. Voodoo believers are most numerous in haiti, where voodoo was granted official religious status in 2003, and in benin, where the religion has had official recognition since 1996. The peoples guide to benin this is a wikipedia book, a collection of wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, imported by an external electronic rendering service, and ordered as a printed book.
The origin of vodun a religion rarely spoken about where our story takes place map of benin map of forest by kevi read our book. First up, a spirit appears for the first time in seven years and. In 1996, the government of benin declared january 10, national voodoo day. The word vodun the haitian word voodoo comes from the african fon language which is still spoken today in benin. Explore benin holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. Benin is the place where the voodoo, or vodu, was born and today is the official religion of the country. The extraordinary voodoo festival which takes place in ouidah, benin every year on 10 january is a once seen, never forgotten experience. An introduction to haitis indigenous spiritual tradition. We recommend booking ouidah museum of history tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Voodoo practitioners believe in the power of spirits, which have influence over nature and human existence. The egungun are masqueraded dancers that represents the ancestral spirits of the yoruba, a nigerian ethnic group, and are believed to visit earth to possess and give guidance to the living. Benin was the seat of one of the great medieval african kingdoms. It is a syncretic religion that combines roman catholicism and native african religion, particularly from the religion of the dahomey region of west africa the modern day nation of benin.
The birthplace of voodoo and a pivotal platform of the slave trade for nearly three centuries, benin is steeped in a rich and complex history still very much in evidence today. It also presents the voodoo s nature, where we come to know the term loa. Our journey starts from the capital of ghana, accra. You will travel from accra to winneba, cape coast and elmina to visit old. During the th century, the indigenous edo people were run by a group of local chieftains. Benin travel guide travel information and expert holiday advice including portonovo and cotonou highlights, vodoo history and fetishes, hotels, restaurants, what to see and where to go. This diverse trip through benin and togo is an opportunity to understand tribal cultures directly from a village chief, discover the varied landscapes and learn about the controversial french colonisation and slave trade history. Nigeria has ideological differences, judge not all at a time. Benin held legislative elections on march 31, 2007, for the 83 seats in the national assembly. Mention the word voodoo and most people conjure images of dolls riddled with nails, and spooky witches casting spells on the innocent. However, by the 15th century, a single ruler, known as the oba, had asserted control.
Voodoo and west africas spiritual life the voodoo religion, with 30 million followers in west africa, is one of the most misunderstood faiths in the world. The force cowrie for an emerging benin fcbe, a coalition of parties, closely linked to president yayi, won a plurality of the seats in the national assembly, providing the president with considerable influence over the legislative agenda. This book contains the history of voodoo, a long one that we cannot accurately trace back. Benin history, language and culture history of benin. Its the must attend event in the voodoo calendar a celebration of the voodoo religion and the cults associated with it and draws fetish priests, adepts, traditional chiefs and onlookers from far and wide. Voodoo is one of the least understood religions of the world. This is an active and outdoor trip that takes 14 days. As pope benedict xvi visits benin, widely seen as the home of voodoo, the bbcs virgile ahissou explains the reality behind what is often a misunderstood religion.
Benin was a french colony from the late 19th century until 1960. You will travel through togo, bermuda and benin and visit atakora mountains, grand popo, natitingou and 7 other destinations. The history of voodoo does not start, as many people believe around 1500 ad in haiti, but about 15,000 years before christ in africa. See all 4 ouidah museum of history tours on tripadvisor. Modern day benin is regarded as the birth place of this religion, and the name voodoo itself means spirit in the local fon language. Voodoo is practiced by 60% of the population and on this day, followers of the various voodoo cults gather at the door of no return in ouidah, the capital of the voodoo religion. In midlife, native new yorker sharon caulder left her successful physical therapy practice to find her soul among the voodoo people in benin republic, west africa.
A study of powerful female leadership in nineteenth century new orleans studies in african american history and culture only 2 left in stock more on the way. Mark of voodoo is the story of her amazing experiences with subsaharan african voodoothe root of all voodooincluding her initiation into the spiritual hierarchy as a fullfledged. Vodou is a creolized religion forged by descendents of dahomean, kongo, yoruba, and other african ethnic groups who had been enslaved and brought to colonial saintdomingue as haiti was known then and christianized by roman catholic missionaries in. Later, allada became the capital of great ardra, a state whose kings ruled with the consent of the elders of the people. Ouidah museum of history 2020 all you need to know. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. People across west africa, especially togo, ghana and nigeria hold similar beliefs. In cotonou, benins largest city, the tourist office told me to return in january, because id only see voodoo at an annual festival in ouidah offering choreographed ceremonies for benins trickle of largely french tourists. 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. Incredible video of voodoo culture in benin youtube. A further aspect of history, one that is rather unpleasant, can be seen in ouidah, benin, where the slave route ended and from where people were shipped as slaves to america. In particular, ouidahs feticheurs enjoy great reputation and the temple of the pythons, despite its small size, represents one of the most.
As pope benedict xvi visits benin, widely seen as the home of voodoo, virgile ahissou from bbc afrique explains the reality behind what is often a misunderstood religion. Benin history, language and culture world travel guide. Also christian belief in voodoo countries is shown. Voodoo history, beliefs, elements, strains or schools, practices, myths and facts. Random vacay goes to benin, west africa, and the home of the voodoo religion. The role of the conspiracy theory in shaping modern history. The ouidah voodoo festival in benin exploring africa. If you would have all nigerians penalised for a crime committed by a benin man, then you would have all europeans penalised for a crime committed by a german man. Benin and togo voodoo discovery by explore bookmundi.
Thus, the real source of voodoo is the egyptian pyramids. List of books and articles about voodoo online research. Its a week that brings together priests and dignitaries, rich and poor, locals and visitors from as far afield as the caribbean and france. A massive, arched gateway, some 50 feet high, stands alone on the edge of one of the loveliest beaches in west. Revised for 2016, this book contains essential historical information and activities on kingdom of benin study of non european society which contrasts with british history. What makes benin most interesting for tourists is its main religion, voodoo. I decided to write this travel guide to benin because, well, there isnt a lot of information this is a detailed travel guide and benin itinerary. As part of the government of benin s action plan to spur growth, benin passed public private partnership legislation in 2017 to attract more foreign investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the development of new food processing systems and agricultural products, encourage new information and communication technology, and establish independent power producers. In the south, according to oral tradition, a group of aja migrated 12th or th cent. So spirits and spirit communication is more prominent in voodoo practice over an allpowerful deity. In the book, aaronovitch tackles the intriguing question of why welleducated. Vodun meaning spirit in the fon and ewe languages, pronounced with a nasal hightone u.
In the past centuries, voodoo was born in the region between abomey and ouidah in benin. Fiction and nonfiction books set completely or at least partially in benin. Modern day benin is regarded as the birth place of this religion, and the name voodoo itself means spirit in. These fetish origins of worship predate many religions by 10,000 years and keep a link of ancestry alive in west africa. The image, which shows the coast of benin on 22 october 2010, uses a combination of infrared and visible light to increase the contrast between water and land. Vodou is also known as vodoun, voodoo, and by several other variants. It has been suggested that voodoo in west africa evolved from the ancient traditions of ancestor worship and animism. Learn more about the history, geography, and culture of benin in this article.
A book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Vodou, also spelled voodoo, voudou, vodun, or french vaudou, a religion practiced in haiti. List of books and articles about benin history online. Public domain although the exact origins of voodoo are unknown, it is generally agreed that this religion has its roots in west africa.
A monument in benin depicts slaves being led away in chains. The rituals and ceremonies of the voodoo religion in benin. January 2020 if you want to plumb the secrets of voodoo youll have to wait for the end of the world. While exploring the cape coast area of ghana, we met apollo, a man with a family history in benin. Ouidah is benins voodoo heartland, and thought to be the spiritual birthplace of voodoo or vodun as it known in benin. The country has a grim history with slave trade on one hand and a place on the unesco world heritage list on the other. Benin is one of only two countries in the world where voodoo is the official religion the other being haiti, in the caribbean.
For those who are interested, this book gives instructions on how to do the spells, healing charm, protection charm and so on of the kind. So did i until my recent trip to west africa, the birthplace of voodoo. The role of the conspiracy theory in shaping modern history aaronovitch, david on. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Heavy rains flooded parts of west and central africa in the rainy season of 2010, and among the hardesthit countries was benin. It includes short and long benin itineraies and suggestions for places to stay and how to get around. Voodoo, vudu, hoodoo, vodun or vudun spirit in the fon and ewe languages, pronounced vod. While voodoo certainly isnt fiction here, witnessing it in action seems unlikely at first. But in the book there are also pictures of markets and crafts as well as children with pretty hairstyles.
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