In Benin, 'Voodoo remains the state religion'. Porto-Novo is concentrated on one spiritual practice – the mysterious world of voodoo.
I know what you are thinking, Voodoo is not part of the New Age! However, Michael York in The A to Z of New Age Movements argues it is. Voodoo involves an sporadic pick-and-mix that characterizes much of the New Age movement, from magically charged wax dolls to amulets and talismans. Voodoo is a spirit-guided, prophecy telling, magical healing practice and Porto-Novo revels in it.
I know what you are thinking, Voodoo is not part of the New Age! However, Michael York in The A to Z of New Age Movements argues it is. Voodoo involves an sporadic pick-and-mix that characterizes much of the New Age movement, from magically charged wax dolls to amulets and talismans. Voodoo is a spirit-guided, prophecy telling, magical healing practice and Porto-Novo revels in it.
Amazingly 40% of Benin's population follow Voodoo
– and believe life is driven by spiritual forces
of natural phenomena such as water, fire, and air, and that these should be
honoured through rituals like animal sacrifices.
In Porto-Novo, you can find Zangbeto (shown
below), a Voodoo guardian of the night. This is from the Yoruba
religion, a religion who believe in "Ayanmo" which is destiny for
your own spiritual well-being. Zangbeto wander around the streets to detect
thieves and witches, and to provide law and order to the village people.
 |
You can't find a Zangbeto costume in Primark
(https://www.pinterest.com/pin/513903007459697661/) |
Voodoo and witchcraft are dark practices of the New Age. For example, in 2012, Porto-Novo
police terrifyingly discovered 100 graves that had been severely
desecrated. The corpses were beheaded and left with few organs. Many Voodoo practices use body parts as charms and fetish
goods used in magic, witchcraft, and animal sacrifice ceremonies in Benin (shown below). The
attackers were planning to sell the body parts as lucky charms.
 |
Voodoo dancers at an Egungun Ceremony
(http://cdn.wanderlust.co.uk/contentimages/wanderlust/Articles-tiny-benin-packs-a-big-punch.jpg?width=620&height=372)
|
If you visit the Voodoo capital of the world, prepare yourself for a world
of constant ritual, curses, lucky charms and also dancing celebrations
(such as the Egungun Ceremony, a ritual for the deceased, pictured above).
 |
A bit different to your local Tesco
(http://cdn.wanderlust.co.uk/contentimages/wanderlust/magazine-415.jpg?width=620)
|
If you really want to step out of your comfort zone and experience the dark side of spiritualism buy your tickets to Porto-Novo, NOW!
No comments:
Post a Comment