WHAT YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT BENIN PEOPLE

The symbol of the serpent eating its own tail is one found throughout a number of cult religions. In voodoo it symbolizes the "Circle of Life" - or the completion of a cycle. It is because of this symbolism that serpents are held in high regard in Benin - the cradle of voodoo. This statue is in the Sacred Forest on the periphery of the village of Ouidah. There is an entire pantheon of voodoo gods represented in the forest in the form of over 40 statues. The Sacred Forest is also used for certain voodoo ceremonies at some times of the year.

Voodoo is widely and openly practiced in Benin Republic West Africa and people are giving the impression, that It is used primarily for good purposes - to ensure abundant fishing - to guaranteee that the rains come on time for a good yield of crops - and as a form of protection against harm. This protection can be insurance that your house is not struck by lightning - or that evil spirits do not enter - or that a marriage be blessed - or that a journey will be without hazard. The list of reasons to employ and summon a voodoo god is endless.But all Voodoo practicioners recognize a number of gods that are the same. They may be known by different names because of language differences, but they are the same gods that rule certain elements. One such universal Vodoo god is Shango - the god of thunder and lightning.

This is the High Priestess of Shango in Ouidah - Benin. she presides over any ceremony when Shango is invoked. She is considered to have a special relationship with the god. Any who would attend a Shango ceremony must first be screened by the priestess to determine whether they are worthy to witness the embodiment of the god in a priest or priestess. the High Priestess consults kola nuts and reads the signs. If the signs are favorable, the visitor may stay and witness the ceremony. It is thought that the kola nuts are one of the mediums of communication between the gods and priests.

Shango is the god of Thunder and Lightning. When his spirit is invoked, priests or priestesses go into trance and receive the spirit into their bodies. In this trance they will dance for very long periods of time. A group of drummers keeps things moving along - there can be many dancers who all receive the spirit simultaneously. A fair bit of alcohol is often consumed by both dancers and drummers.

This is a "Guardian of the Night"spirit dancer. is Dominant in Benin Republic,The straw-rattan costumes are considered to be houses for the Guardian of the Night. Priests usually demonstrate an empty costume by showing it to onlookers who can see the inside. It is placed on the ground and prayers are chanted. Suddenly the costume begins to shake, indicating that the spirit has entered it and taken on its form. At the end of a dance or procession, the priests will again turn the costume up-side-down and show that it is empty - meaning the spirit has departed. Some times there will be something left behind such as a bottle with a bird trapped inside. The bottle may be broken and the bird set free by the priests. There are many variations on this theme. Sometimes dogs or cats appear inside the empty costume and run away.

Ouidah is well know for its cult of snake worshipers. The Sacred Temple of Serpents houses over 400 pythons which are tended by a priest cult devoted to the task. Live pythons are worn as ornamentation during certain voodoorites. The snakes are sacred and are protected under voodoo law. Nobody may kill a python without incurring the wrath of gods who are the spiritual embodiment of serpents.

Ritual scarification is carried out be some priestesses inthe Voodoo cults of Benin. These extremely painful episodes are carried out upon advanced priestesses in the hierarchy of the priesthood. The priesthood is, of course, held in high esteem by the community. Marks such as these are an instant form of visual recognition for the higher rank of priestesses. Oddly enough, the practice is not done by men or priests.

This is the shrine of Dankoly in central Benin. The shrine is located in the middle of nowhere and provides a local industry for the priest cult which attends it. Dankoly is the only Voodoo shrine in Benin used expressly for Revenge purposes. Pilgrims journey to Dankoly to curse their enemies and the gods is much feared. The priest pours alcoholic spirits and palm oil onto the shrine invoking the gods as the pilgrim pounds a small stake in the ground. During this action the pilgrim utters his curse and begs the gods to inflict harm on the recipient of the curse. As you can see, this is a very old shrine. The mound is nearly 7 feet high and is composed of numerous sacrifices of blood, feathers, oil and alcohol. The many stakes - each bearing a curse - are seen surrounding the shrine mound

The priest in this photo is holding a chicken whose poor unfortunate throat has been cut. The blood is dripping onto the shrine of the Voodoo god Shango. Shango rules Thunder and Lightning and is much feared in West Africa. These ceremonies are conducted to appease the god and ensure that calamity does not happen to the community. This cult is located in Ouidah - Benin - West Africa. Ouidah is the cradle of all Voodoo.