Traditions of Ouidah
The spiritual home of Vodun, where Voodoo Day on 10 January is a national holiday.
Ouidah, on the coast of Benin, is a centre of Vodun, a religion that spread from here to Haiti, Brazil and Cuba. The Route of Slaves leads from the town to the beach, ending at the Gate of No Return, and the sacred forest and python temple hold ceremonies. Voodoo Day, on 10 January, is a public holiday.
Vodun Day
On 10 January, priests, worshippers and visitors gather on the beach for libations, drumming and dance. Egungun masked dancers, in cloth that hides all of them, represent the ancestors and appear at funerals. Zangbeto, night guards in raffia costumes, spin on the streets.
At the table
Pâte, a cornmeal paste, with peanut or tomato sauce, and fresh fish, and akassa, a fermented corn pudding, are basic foods. Sodabi, palm spirit, is poured to the ancestors. Akpan, a sour maize pudding with sugar, is loved by children. Offerings include chickens, kola and gin.
Signature traditions of Ouidah
Also part of it, and being written: Vodun (The religion.), Door of No Return, Ouidah (The memorial.).
A trail idea for Ouidah
- Route des Esclaves Walk to the beach.
- Python Temple See sacred snakes.
- Sacred Forest A forest of shrines.
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Letra del Año: Ìṣẹ̀ṣeAssembly, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Zangbeto: Grete Howard, CC BY 3.0, source
- Vodun Days: Eureka9090, CC BY-SA 4.0, source