Benin Local Customs

  The Kings of Ouidah
by janiebaxter
 
  • The Kings of Ouidah
      The Kings of Ouidah
    by janiebaxter
  • Somba Facial Markings match the Tata
      Somba Facial Markings match the Tata
    by janiebaxter
  • Young Child Wearing a Protection Belt
      Young Child Wearing a Protection Belt
    by janiebaxter
  • Cotton Storage
      Cotton Storage
    by janiebaxter
  • A Somba Man in the Doorway of his Tata
      A Somba Man in the Doorway of his Tata
    by janiebaxter
 
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Religion in Benin

by janiebaxter

There are many Christians in Benin and I saw many churches and cathedrals, as well as some mosques, but most people also follow the traditional religion of Voodoo. The Kings of Dahomey allowed the people to take up and practise Christianity but they never converted themselves and always followed the traditional religion. The slaves returning from the Americas had mixed their traditional religion with the Catholic religion and some of their practices were integrated into the culture too. The Celestial Christian religion was started in Benin in the 1940’s and has spread through West Africa with many followers. You can mainly see them in the South of Benin and are noticeable as they wear all white clothes. As it was Easter when I visited I saw many of them going to and coming from their services.

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Language in Benin

by janiebaxter

The main language in Benin is French with tribal languages also spoken – Yoruba and Fon. Some people speak a little English in the hotels but not much. And all the signs and descriptions in the museums are in French. If you are not French speaking I would recommend you get an English speaking guide. Most of the museums have an English speaking guide, and the standard of English they speak is very good. There is a lot of information in the museums, and it would be a great pity to miss out on the wonderful descriptions of history and culture. I had an English speaking guide, Alex, with me throughout my trip. He was excellent and really brought to life the history and culture.

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Voodoo

by janiebaxter

Most of the people in Benin follow the traditional Voodoo religion, particularly in the South and in the villages. Voodoo is not the evil practice of sticking pins in dolls that resemble your enemy as we have been led to believe. It is a very complex system of beliefs based on the one god that created the world, called Mawa-Lissa (a woman!) and a system of lesser gods and spirits. These gods and spirits need to be kept happy in order for people to have good fortune and avoid bad luck and need to be communicated with regularly to keep the link between the spirit world and the living. Of course it is much more complicated than this, but this is a simplified synopsis of Voodoo.You will see many temples dedicated to various gods as you travel around Benin and most of them are not grand but very small and simple. They have the name of the god or spirit they are dedicated to painted on the...

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The Blessing of Twins

by janiebaxter

Twins are considered extremely special and a great blessing in Benin. If a woman gives birth to twins she becomes a very important person with great status and is considered very lucky. The twins are treated as special and everything must be shared equally between them.If one of the twins dies the surviving twin has to carry around with them a small carved replica of their dead brother or sister which has to be dressed in identical clothes and given a small bit of the same food. The dead twin is not described as dead but “has gone to the forest to look for wood” In Ouidah a ceremony for twins is held in the Chodaton plantation near the door of no return every October.

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The Gozin

by janiebaxter

The Gozin is a clay pot that was used in traditional ceremonies. If a King ruled for 10 years a ceremony was held in celebration, and then held every 10 years he ruled after that. The Gozin was carried to the river by young girls who must be virgins. They filled it with water and carried it back to the village where the water was used to purify the village.You can see examples of the Gozin in the museums and paintings depicting the virgins carrying the water in many places.

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New buildings

by auzziequeen

I was fasinated by the way the Benionise build thier houses, especially when it comes to the second 3rd and 4th floors. They use strong branches to brace up the next floor before pouring the concrete, as far as I could see in the time I was there, they do that by the bucket full, instead of by the truck load like we do back home in Australia. They sure are hard workers, making do with what they have. The end result is beautiful.

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Sewing shop

by auzziequeen

On one of the side streets in Cotonou, I found this sewing shop, the lady made me a traditional dress in a few days for only 5000 cfa which is about $13 Australian, in doing so she provided the lining, lace, thread and zip. All I had to do was give her the material that I purchased at the markets, showed her the dress I would like from a poster of traditional dresses and tell her what changes I liked. I was very pleased with the result. Notice also in front of the shop a coal iron that is used to iron the clothes she makes.

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Anything can be bought for the...

by byron3062

Anything can be bought for the right price in Benin, including the officers of immigration and customs and security police in the airports. You have to learn to deal with all the vendors whither on the street are in the shops. Every thing is negotiable. This one of the many open air markets where you can buy fresh produce. Most of the vendors here are women and they are just as conniving when it comes to trying to rip you off.

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pictures

by islander1000

people in geneal do not like to be photograhed, can get rather angry but than one can ask and might get permission (for a little cadeau)

lot of things in wood and...

by nygaston

lot of things in wood and coperI bough a bracelet for my friend.

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Local traditions and culture in Benin

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Local Customs: Cities in Benin
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Questions and Answers

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Q:  I shall be travelling through Ghana, Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso very soon. Any advice on what I should or should not wear... 

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A: Hi I am assuming from your VT name that you don't usually favour skimpy clothing? Well, just in case I am mistaken, this is not the part of the world to venture out in... 

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