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Faith

‘Power! Power!’: West Africans Celebrate Annual Voodoo Festival (Complete With Snakes & Animal Slaughters)

Jan. 11, 2013 6:50am Billy Hallowell

Editor’s Note: This article is part of a larger series about lesser-known religions called “Understanding Faith.”

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OUIDAH, Benin (TheBlaze/AP) — The deified residents of the Temple of Pythons, when released to find food, sometimes slither across the road into a Catholic church that once hosted Pope Benedict XVI. The local priest, the snake handlers say, is always good enough to call or bring the gorging reptiles back to their own spiritual home.

This is life in Ouidah, a mecca of spirits and gods worshipped by practitioners of Voodoo, a recognized religion in this former French colony in West Africa that is home to 9 million people. The religion has its own pope — or two, depending on who you ask — whose reign dates back to the 1400s and can be seen about town in his SUV.

West Africans in Benin Celebrate Annual Voodoo Festival

Jean Zossoujbo, a guide at the Temple of Pythons, shows a python to a visitor to the temple in Ouidah, Benin, on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. Ouidah, considered the major cultural city in the West African nation of Benin, is preparing for its annual Voodoo Festival on Thursday. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

This past Thursday, local banks and the post office closed as the town celebrated its annual Voodoo Festival, an event increasingly drawing curious foreigners. With its mix of beliefs and traditions, the Voodoo practiced here shows both a clash of cultures and the ability for ancient traditional beliefs to adapt to modern life.

While some Americans may hold Hollywood-inspired images of what Voodoo is, the description coming from those who embrace it — and from others who have observed their practices — paints a more complex picture.

“It is like we are sending all the evil in the country, on the continent, away,” said Djabassi Manonwomin, a Voodoo priestess who leads others in the worship of a mermaid deity. “The people today are corrupt, we can see that. It is from the old days, but now more open.

“More people are hungry (for corruption). They put their bellies in front of themselves.”

A man raises a knife to a crowd of worshippers and onlookers before slaughtering a goat at the Temple of Pythons during the Voodoo Festival in Ouidah, Benin, on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. Ouidah, considered the major cultural city in the West African nation of Benin, held its annual Voodoo Festival on Thursday. Voodoo is an official religion in this nation of 9 million people and this year’s festival honored the slaves taken from surrounding countries and sent into America and the Caribbean, people who brought the religion with them. Credit: AP

Voodoo, also called “vodoun” here, can be seen throughout the streets of Ouidah. One local school proudly identifies itself by the religion. Down the dusty street on a recent day one could see the decapitated head of a monkey, wrapped around a stick, a curse someone had placed near a shrine of a three-head man wrapped by pythons. While the curse was grotesque, Voodoo generally does not follow the images from movies and novels from the West, of zombies and possessions.

It borrows heavily from the mythology of Yoruba people of Nigeria’s southwest. Gods and spirits of neighboring Togo and nearby Ghana also can be openly worshipped — and others much farther afield. At Manonwomin’s own shrine, the walls bear images of the Hindu god Ganesh, as well as the image of an Indian woman praying. Outside, a small offering of bananas and biscuits, doused in perfume, could be seen by her gate outlined in chalk.

Voodoo chiefs watch as a man slaughters a goat, not in frame, at the Temple of Pythons during the annual Voodoo Festival in Ouidah, Benin, on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. The deified residents of the Temple of Pythons, occasionally released to eat in this West African coastal city, sometimes slither across the road into a Catholic church that once hosted Pope Benedict. Credit: AP

The chanting prayers include cries of “Power! Power!” Similar chants can be heard in evangelical Christian churches across Nigeria, including pastors’ repeatedly shouting that enemies should be consumed by “fire!”

Though Benin appears to be where slaves brought to America and the Caribbean learned about Voodoo, the nation itself has a mixed history with the religion. Mathieu Kerekou, a one-time Marxist dictator turned elected president, banned Voodoo practices during the Cold War. However, he himself was said to have been so angry about losing a popular election for the nation’s highest office that he put a Voodoo curse on it himself.

Now, the religion has its own national day Jan. 10. It coexists peacefully with Islam and Catholicism, the other major religions in the country.

As men prepared to slaughter goats as an offering at a shrine, foreigners raised their own cameras up to catch the moment when worshippers slit the goat’s throat. Others giggled or looked uncomfortable as they let guides at the python temple place the snakes around their shoulders or atop their head as a reptilian scarf.

Aduare Achumba, a visitor to the Temple of Pythons, reacts as a guide puts a python on her head in Ouidah, Benin, on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. Credit: AP

“You conjure up all kinds of images that Hollywood has sent us, but I did read up about it and learn that’s not what it is,” said Greg Fry, a tourist from Kamloops, Canada. “It made me interested to see how this functions, what part it plays in their society.”

Material interests have entered the equation now as well. Peddlers selling African masks and other items surrounded those attending the festival. Daagbo Hanoun, the Voodoo pope, and his entourage also demanded payments from foreign journalists, despite their protests that the Vatican doesn’t charge to cover Mass.

Some believe the fight over money launched a years-long insurrection by another man who claims he’s the Voodoo pope by birth. That man celebrated his own Voodoo festival at a sports stadium in the city.

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Comments (23)

RightThinking1
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 6:04pm
Hey…, I’d toss in a couple of bucks to finance the shipment of some PETA ‘observers’ over there.

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INTHEBROTHERHOOD
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 10:21pm
I hope all the Catholic priests across the road are prayed up. Solid proof of prior earth ages. Its amazing how biblical text confirms itself. Life on earth without Jesus…Ill pass.

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ILUVPORK
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 10:09pm
I am looking into my crystal ball. Yes You VooDians are sending evil to our shores.But wait I see your future the future of Africa.I see, I see,Yes the chinese purging your country ,buying out your leaders to forage for gold silver oil and jewels.I see, I see, in my crystal ball All your resources being sent to china.Wait wait I see another prediction ooopps it’s the United States of America iIguess we were sold out when we were watching American Idol!!! Darn!

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searching for the Truth
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:42pm
Amazing. A famous missionary doctor spent his entire life in Africa. Treated thousands ,and at his death was found only to have one trusted servant,and no converts. His heart was cut out and buried in Africa – his body was sent back home.

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Jacopone
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 7:09pm
Our national tribal leader is sacrificing the United States.

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snowmonk
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 3:11pm
In answer to LAKESIDELIZ the Sumerians, Hebrews,Greeks,Romans,Germantics,Celts,Mayans,Hindus, the Cuban religion called Palo.and a faction of Latter Day Saints known as Strangite all practiced animal sacrifice. Did Abraham not sacrifice a ram in place of his son. Did Jesus parents not sacrifice 2 doves.(Luke 2:24) and St Paul (acts 21:23:26) Was Jesus not the Lamb of God that was sacrificed so that all men were blessed?

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snowmonk
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 2:55pm
In answer to SHORELINELIZ if I am not mistaken animal sacrifice has been done by the Sumerians,Hebrews,Greeks,Romans,Germanics,Celts,Aztecs,Mayans,Hindus,The Cuban religion called Palo. The faction of the Latter Day Saints called Strangite did animal sacrifice. Abraham sacrificed a ram in place of his son. (Acts 21:23:26) Did not the Holy family sacrifice 2 doves (Luke2: 24) Did not Jesus not become the greatest sacrifice thru his death so that all people could be blessed.

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michaelmoron
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 2:16pm
The only thing that is evil on the African Continent, is the International Banksters and their Banks.

It is going to take more than chants, dances and snakes to remove them.

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DYNA
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:42pm
And we are suppose to be inclusive?
The liberals blame the USA for malaise and poverty in Africa when it is really the occult.

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Tom70
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 1:21pm
Gee why isn’t moochell there with her kids sucking up american tax dollars and enjoying her culture?

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kens
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:28pm
Say, isn’t this where Obama’s roots are?

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taintso
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:11pm
I asked around while working in the Caribean Island about Voodoo and was told there is good and evil Voodoo the good is used for health and prosperity, and evil like when the African Voodoo priest sent Obama here.

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zoro51
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 10:03am
AGAIN **** LIKE THIS IS NOT NEWS.. open your eyes REPORT OBAMAS IMPEACHMENT … THATS NEWS..

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- Locked
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 10:21am
  Well of course it’s not news. It’s a “news and opinion” site. Did you even miss the note at the beginning?
  “Editor’s Note: This article is part of a larger series about lesser-known religions called “Understanding Faith.””
  
  Report this comment
- sillyfreshness
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 11:51am
  This is an example of the kinds of people the Democrats (communists) want to let flood into this country-all to ensure the Democrats keep getting elected forever. These are the kinds of people that have no concept of a constitution, so they are perfect to let immigrate to the US. Democrats sold this country out for votes.
  
  Report this comment
GuruMeditation
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:37am
Could have fooled me.

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snowmonk
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:22am
God bless these people. They are not holding ak47s and RPGs calling for jihad. They did not kill the catholic priest across the street. They are not locking the doors of burning schools and letting little girls burn to death because someone may see their face without their Hijab on. We in the USA had our own voodoo queen her name was MARIE LAVEAU

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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 8:36am
ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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Zipit
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 8:31am
This is actually a look into the future of health care here in the United States, as a result of BHO and the “Affordable health care act”!!!!!

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snowmonk
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 8:10am
God Bless these people they are not carrying around RPGs and ak47s.They are not calling for Jihad and they are not killing the catholic priest across the street. In the USA we had our own MARIE LAVEAU the voodoo queen.God Bless them.

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Darla_K
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 7:57am
I would not be surprised if some of our leaders join in the celebration. Yikes!!!

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kickagrandma
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 7:14am
Oh, my gosh! It’s congress behind those closed doors.

No surprise here, is there? The black caw-caws unleashed!

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kickagrandma
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 7:11am
Oh, my gosh! congress behind closed doors.

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