January 10th was the official holiday celebrating the unofficial national religion Voodoo. As we have already mentioned, Voodoo emerged from Benin and Ouidah is its birthplace. In addition to the many sacred voodoo monuments (See post from Jaren's trip to Ouidah ), Ouidah boasts the biggest voodoo fete in Benin. Jaren was fortunate to be in Ouidah during the fete, while Steve celebrated from Grand Popo.
The fete started out with the expected pomp and circumstance. Every offical had to give a long-winded speech in both French and Fon (a local language) that took all of an hour to get through even though the end of each speech was interupted by drummers playing who wanted to get the show started. But the drummers were quieted to give each official their time in the spotlight.
Finally, after the speeches the show started. It commenced with the dancing revenants – the supposed embodiment of returned spirits. To us, they look like swirling colored haystacks.
They were followed by men dressed in fabulous bedazzled outfits that can only be described the classic Clan hood if it was designed by Liberace, while others looked like Greek Orthodox preists taking the boat ride from the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Following the display, revelers retired to their homes for personal celebration, which as no surprise to anyone here invloved sodabi and akassa.
The fete started out with the expected pomp and circumstance. Every offical had to give a long-winded speech in both French and Fon (a local language) that took all of an hour to get through even though the end of each speech was interupted by drummers playing who wanted to get the show started. But the drummers were quieted to give each official their time in the spotlight.
Finally, after the speeches the show started. It commenced with the dancing revenants – the supposed embodiment of returned spirits. To us, they look like swirling colored haystacks.
They were followed by men dressed in fabulous bedazzled outfits that can only be described the classic Clan hood if it was designed by Liberace, while others looked like Greek Orthodox preists taking the boat ride from the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Following the display, revelers retired to their homes for personal celebration, which as no surprise to anyone here invloved sodabi and akassa.
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