Name: Thousands gather to mark Benins Vodun Days showcasing local culture
Uploaded: 2026-01-11T17:06:16.137Z
Duration: 2 min 20 s
Description: The Voodoo festival has become a real tourist magnet, attracting visitors from the continent and beyond every year.

The Voodoo festival has become a real tourist magnet, attracting visitors from the continent and beyond every year.

Porto-Novo

Benin has hosted an international festival dedicated to the Vodun (Voodoo) religion for the past three years, centered around January 10. The event in Ouida, regarded as the spiritual capital of Vodun, brings together followers from Benin, Africa, and the diaspora to celebrate and showcase African traditional culture.

The festival features music, ceremonies, and cultural displays, attracting thousands of tourists and new followers, including international participants such as American Charisma Freeman, who was recently appointed a traditional queen. The event is praised for promoting unity and cultural heritage, with performances by artists like Bobowe, and is set to return in early January 2027.

Thousands gather to mark Benin's Vodun Days showcasing local culture

For the past three years, the government of Benin has organized an international festival around the 10th of January, a date dedicated to the traditional Vodun or Voodoo religion. On this occasion, followers from all over the country, elsewhere in Africa and the diaspora gather in the city of Ouida, known as the world's spiritual capital of Vodun. This day allows us to show the population the value of African culture, the value of traditional culture. Vodun, I would say, is our reality. We invite everyone to come and experience these realities and see the tangible facts of Vodun for themselves. Vodun is good. Vodun does good. Vodun is gaining visibility and attracting new followers from elsewhere. Among them is American Charisma Freeman, who was recently appointed traditional queen. My life has changed tremendously. I'm currently learning what it means to be the queen, learning more about the voodoo. You are, more than one voodoo comes to you, so it's learning about all of the different voodoos, not just the one. In addition, the Vodun days have become a real tourist magnet, attracting thousands of visitors from the continent and beyond every year. It's magnificent. It's lovely to see African culture bringing the whole world together. The festival opens with a giant concert on Ouida Beach, bringing together national and international stars. The world of young Beninese artist Bobowe is deeply influenced by Vodun. His song entitled Vodun celebrates the beauty and strength of this traditional religion. The people of Benin call me the son of voodoo because in my music I promote voodoo. Benin sees me as someone who values this tradition. It's my heritage. Vodun days will return in early January 2027, much to the delight of devotees and festival goers alike.

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