Vodoun
is an ancient African religion that had been suppressed by colonial
forces and others for centuries. Since 1991, however, this religion
has gained a respectable place in the nation of Benin. National
Vodoun Day is a time to honor Benin's history, culture, and
traditions. It is a day of parades, rituals, dances, and an
international film festival. |
| Gate of No Return |
Because
Benin's port of Ouidah was a important during the slave trade of the
1500s to the 1800s, part of Vodoun Day is a re-enactment of the
journey from the auction block in the center of town to ships in the
harbor. People walk the three kilometers of this “Route of the
Slaves,” pass memorials to enslaved peoples and statues honoring
the ancient Dahomey kingdom, and finally go through the “Gate of No
Return” sculpture. On the other side of the gate is the beach,
where the people find food to eat, music to dance to, and vendors and
artists with wares to buy.
 |
| Close-up of the memorial |
Celebrate
Benin
Go West Africa has activities and stories to teach kids about Benin.
Check
out the photos of the Route of the Slaves from Cosmo Connections.
By
the way...
Even
if you have never heard of the religion Vodoun (also spelled Vodon and Vodun),
you may have heard of the offshoot that developed among the enslaved
African-heritage people in the New World. That offshoot religion is
called Voodoo.
Also
on this date:
No comments:
Post a Comment