Cotonou, Benin

Another new country for us so we took an Oceania excursion to “The City of Voodoo,” Ouidah. It’s considered a must-see town in Benin for anyone interested in Voodoo and/or slave history. Voodoo is believed to have started here and is still practiced by anywhere from 40 to 70 per cent of its people, depending on who you ask. In addition, Ouidah’s Gate of No Return and the Slave Route are a UNESCO World Heritage Site commemorating the kidnapping of about a million Africans and their sale into slavery.

Our first stop was to The Sacred Forest which houses many shrines dedicated to various Voodoo deities. Believers come there for their ritual practices, divine inspiration and even initiation ceremonies. The forest became sacred when, centuries ago, one of the kings turned himself into a tree so he wouldn’t be captured by enemies. Voodoo worshipers believe that if you touch the tree and make a wish, it will definitely come true. (Btw, our guide had scars from cuts on the top of her hands, one set from her initiation and another to protect her.)

We then visited the temple dedicated to the Sacred Python, believed to offer vitality and protection. Brad and I each met the python! We also visited the former Slave House, a memorial to slavery situated on the site of the former slave market, and the Gate of No Return, a monument built by the Benin Government. We ended our tour with a visit to a Voodoo Temple.Read more