This is a Vodou ceremony.
To be more specific, a chicken sacrifice that is helping this Vodou feticheur commune with
the gods.
And incidentally, that sacrifice also made for a pretty tasty dinner…
This is the best chicken, I’ve ever had…
My name is Addison O’Dea, and I’m an explorer who travelled to Togo, a tiny nation in West
Africa , to learn more about the often misunderstood, practice of Vodou.
Outside of this part of the world, this faith is often painted as dark, sinister, and an
occult practice.
The cult of the voodoo.
This dance is not be confused with a religious or ceremonial rite for voodoo has only to
do with the mind.
Ever in crowded cities the flame of this cult bursts forth, handed down from when human
blood was spilled on the sacred drum.
But in West Africa, this religion is observed by millions, and, for them, Vodou is a path
to lifelong balance, health, and prosperity.
For those who practice, one of the best ways to achieve this is by working with a healer,
known as a Feticheur, here at the ‘Marche des Fetches’, West Africa’s largest Vodou
Market.
You can buy a cornucopia of Vodou items here including
animals in various states of decay, shrunken leopard heads, dried owls, powdered chameleon
and even human skulls.
This old market is kind of like an alternative pharmacy superstore.
Its preventive: good for growing families, new businesses, and to nurture love.
And, restorative: if you’re ill, cursed, stressed by work or unlucky in love, this
is where you come to search for a cure.
You can either buy an idol, wear a talisman or take a Vodou concoction directly into your
bloodstream.
Personally, I was looking for something to protect me while I was on my travels.
So my friend Patience Dako took me for a consultation with one of the market’s feticheurs.
After some discussion, he told me he could make me a protective amulet, but in order
to do so we needed to collect a few items from the market.
Porcupine quills, dog heads, owls, blowfish, starfish - I need a whole zoo to protect me
After my consultation with a feticheur, I decided to visit a Vodou temple.
I was surrounded by statues dedicated to the various Vodou gods
And I witnessed ceremonies, like this one where priests invoked water spirits to enter
the temple.
But perhaps what struck me most was how much in common Vodou Temples have with other places
of worship.
Just like a church or mosque, this is a place for people to gather -- where communities
are defined.
A place to share stories or conduct prayers for those who need help in their day to day
lives.
While I am still working to demystify parts of my Vodou experiences, what I took away
from my travels in Togo is that this religion is ultimately one that centers on community
and how to strengthen it.
And it deserves to be recognized as a global faith