Benin's Voodoo festival transforms into "Vodun Days"

Simenou Dangnitche has completed the final stage of her annual ritual.

This marks her 15th consecutive participation in Benin’s renowned Voodoo festival, a spiritual gathering of hundreds at the symbolic “Door of No Return” arch, memorializing those who embarked on slave ships bound for the New World.

“It’s more than just a festival,” declares Dangnitche, emphasizing the event’s significance as a pilgrimage, a rejuvenation, and a reconnection with ancestors.

Voodoo, or Vodoun locally, is a revered religion in Benin, honoring gods, natural spirits, and ancestors. Originating in the Dahomey kingdom, present-day Benin and Togo, it coexists with Christianity, particularly in coastal towns like Ouidah.

This year, the festival has undergone a transformative shift, catching the attention of participants like Dangnitche.

The Benin government, led by President Patrice Talon, has rebranded the event into a two-day celebration known as “Vodun Days,” taking place on January 9-10.

The restructured program aims to make the festivities more appealing to tourists, signaling a strategic move to boost the country’s economy.

Dangnitche expresses being “stunned by the organization and structuring of the festival,” indicating a positive response to the changes.

President Talon emphasizes that this new approach is designed to unveil Vodoun to the world, explaining its spiritual and sociological concepts.

“Vodoun is of economic interest to us, since tourism is an important sector,” he adds.

Ouidah, the focal point of the celebration, underwent a makeover for the occasion.

Christopher Swain, an American attendee who returns yearly to “recharge and reconnect spiritually,” notes the “significant changes” in the town’s attractions.

Public squares in Ouidah hosted lively celebrations, featuring jazz, dancing, and even the participation of President Talon.

The 73-year-old spiritual leader of the religion, Daagbo Hounon, aims to dispel misconceptions about Vodoun, stating, “We need to prove to the world that there is nothing Satanic or evil about Vodoun.”

He underscores the values of tolerance, sharing, love, generosity, and peace within the Vodoun tradition, portraying it as a spiritual practice intertwined with various arts, as reflected in the songs and dances of the faithful.

Alain Godonou, a key figure in the Heritage and Tourism Agency, views the revamped celebrations as a significant development in promoting Vodoun as a tourism catalyst.

He believes these changes will attract more curiosity and enable people to discover the essence of Vodoun.

President Talon, while declining to disclose the budget allocated to Vodun Days, emphasizes the focus on both international and domestic tourism to enhance the local economy and “reveal Benin to ourselves.”

The festival’s evolution signifies not only a spiritual rejuvenation but also a strategic move to position Vodoun as a cultural and economic asset for the nation.