Picture: Stev Avos via Unsplash
Traditional Voodoo guardians of the night took to the streets of Ouidah on 9 January 2025, performing rites and processions ahead of the annual Vodun Days festival. The coastal city, long regarded as the spiritual capital of Vodun, draws devotees, scholars and tourists from across Africa and the diaspora. (Source: Africanews).
The Beninese government has organised an international festival around 10 January for the past three years to celebrate Vodun, also spelt Vodoun or Vodon. Hounnongan Dah Allotinou Hounon, headmaster of the Vodun Hwendo religious school, said the day gives an opportunity to share traditional culture with the world. “Voodoo is our reality. We invite everyone to come and experience these realities and see the tangible facts for themselves. Voodoo is good. Voodoo does good,” he said.
Visitors also included new followers from outside Africa. Charisma Freeman, originally from the United States, was recently appointed a traditional queen and described Vodun as a living, diverse tradition that she is still learning. The festival opened with a giant concert on Ouidah beach that featured national and international artists, including Beninese singer Bobo We, whose music celebrates Vodun heritage.
Organisers say Vodun Days have become a major tourism draw, bringing thousands of visitors and boosting local vendors and cultural projects. The next edition is scheduled for early January 2027, promising another showcase of ritual, music and community life.
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