Abomey, Benin and More Voodoo

Abomey is one of Benin’s big attractions with painted voodoo fetish temples and remains of former royal palaces. The Dan-Homey empire built magnificcent palaces in Abomey. One is now a museum displaying ritual objects of the court including treasures given by European royalty and merchants. The palace also contained the kings’ grand tombs.

There were originally 12 palaces. However, all but two were destroyed by the French army in 1892. The remaining palaces are being restored with the help of UNESCO. Being weak in the history department, I always thought that slavery was initiated by the “White Man” and was surprised to learn that Kingdoms like the Dan-Homey used their powers to be in a constant state of war, thereby allowing a never-ending flow of prisoners for their slave trade! The royal armies also included warrior women. (Go girl!)

On to some more voodoo – a very important sanctuary where the local people come to sacrifice animals to voodoo fetishes.

(Sure hope that was all animal blood on these effigies. It was one of those things that I didn’t want to explore more closely.)

From there, we continued to the lands of the Taneka/Somba who live among the rocky cliffs of Central Benin, and a new Hotel, Tata Somba, our home for the next night

Only a third of the people in Benin (who also speak French) are Christians or Muslims. The rest are animists. Somba people are concentrated in the Atacora mountains in the northwest of Benin. This group is particularly known for the unique architectural style of their “tata somba” houses, which resemble small castles. These houses, along with some of the most beautiful scenery in Benin, is best viewed in the mountains around Natitingou. The Taneka also believe in scarification.

There was also a young warrior on his way to a iniation ceremony involving circumsion! Big “ouch” from the men in our group this time!

Our days were very long and extremely colorful…causing major sensory overload…