Benin

Benin is a small country in West Africa, similar in many respects to its neighbours in West Africa, but renowned as the birthplace of voodoo and the point from which thousands of slaves departed Africa for the New World.

Voodoo is the state religion in Benin, and it is prevalent across all aspects of daily life. Fetishes often mark the entrance to a village and the animal parts used in religious rituals can be bought in the market alongside groceries; women can be seen carrying traditional ‘voodoo dolls’ in their clothes, or with tattoos on their faces showing devotion to their faith; and statues, temples and shrines are everywhere. The procession of spirits accompanying a funeral can even be seen in broad daylight on the streets of the commercial capital, Cotonou.

Echoes of the slave trade are present too. Night markets are said to be a tradition brought back by slaves returning from the New World, who were forbidden to trade during the day. The town of Ganvié owes its existence to the trade, being constructed entirely on stilts in the middle of Lake Nakoué so as to protect its inhabitants from slave raids.

These photographs were taken in January 2013.