Breaking stereotypes: Benin introduces Vodun festival new format

FRANCE 24 English

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00:00 The beginning of January, the city of Ouida hosts yearly Vodun festivities.

00:06 This year, the exclusive rituals and dances performed on sacred grounds will be open to the public.

00:13 Dignitaries and followers return to their roots by showcasing Vodun as more than just a religion,

00:26 but also a culture and visual art form.

00:30 We want to contribute to the development of the world and for Africa to reclaim its rightful place.

00:38 It's great for me to discover things that are part of my identity, my culture.

00:45 I have lost a lot of time. Sometimes it feels like we are searching for things that we already have within us.

00:51 Through this new concept, called Vodun Days, the festival opens up to exhibit more than Vodun culture.

00:58 For several days, many forms of Afro-culture are represented in Ouida's city center

01:05 and the historic door of no return, with the aim of boosting tourism.

01:10 We do not have large quantities of oil or gold, but we're smart.

01:19 We're lucky to have this intangible wealth, which is our Vodun tradition.

01:23 Today, what we are trying to do is restore its prestige.

01:26 Famous international artists such as Yemi Elade, Tabu Kombo and Kofi Elomide

01:37 have been brought in to perform in front of 35,000 attendees,

01:43 among them a significant number of Afro-descendant tourists.

01:48 I'm surprised by how big it is this year. Yesterday, there was a concert and there was no space left at all in Ouida.

01:55 Benin can be proud and I hope it continues to grow.

01:57 While opening up to the world, Benin strives to maintain its uniqueness and the spirituality

02:05 at the heart of Vodun Days. The grand traditional ceremony

02:10 showcases the diversity of Vodun deities and their interconnections.

02:16 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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