Ancient voodoo traditions are safeguarding vital mangroves. Where laws failed, belief in Zangbeto — a night watchman spirit — is helping the fight against climate change.

Porto-Novo

In Benin, the endangered mangrove forests at Lake Aheme face threats from overfishing, deforestation, pollution, and climate change. Conventional laws have been ineffective in protecting these ecosystems, prompting the involvement of the Zangbetu, voodoo night watchmen who serve as spiritual guardians. 

The Zangbetu use traditional beliefs and rituals to deter destruction of the mangroves, establishing a respected and feared presence that enforces conservation. Supported by local NGO Eco Bene, this partnership merges indigenous spiritual practices with environmental protection, resulting in improved preservation of habitats for diverse wildlife and supporting the livelihoods of local communities.

Voodoo helps protect endangered mangroves in Benin

In Bene, ancient spiritual guardians have stepped in where earthly laws have failed. Zangbetu, voodoo night watchmen, are both respected and feared by the local population. Authorities there have long struggled to protect the endangered mangrove forests here at Lake Aheme, which are threatened by overfishing, deforestation, pollution and climate change. Now they have help from the other world. Zangbetu are a traditional police force. Their purpose is to protect communities. The mangroves in our area are sacred forests. We protect them by putting a Zangbetu fetish here. It watches over the mangroves on behalf of the local community. If you go near the mangroves to cut them down, the fetish will denounce you and Zangbetu will catch you. And if it catches you, you have to give a sheep, a pig, palm oil, 50,000 CFE francs, palm wine and other things or you risk losing your life. A belief system with a powerful effect, Eco Bene, an NGO that has been working with local communities for over two decades, supports this partnership between heritage and conservation. Laws to protect mangroves were poorly enforced, but with the help of Zangbetu, villagers have created a 24-7 spiritual surveillance system that no one dares to defy. It allows us to better preserve these ecosystems and provide a habitat for all the wildlife here. There are birds and monkeys, and it's suitable for fish, crabs, shrimps and so on too. All these species can find enough space here to grow and reproduce. For the locals, protecting the mangroves helps protect their livelihoods. The action that has been taken will allow fish to multiply peacefully and allow us to survive too. When the men go fishing and I do my bit by collecting oysters, it all helps our family to live better. The Zangbetu tradition at Lake Aheme is not just conservation. It's spiritual climate action, merging indigenous knowledge with environmental protection to save ecosystems, strengthen communities and inspire people to rethink how to protect nature. While the spirits are watching, the mangroves here are thriving.

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