Voodoo and animism in Benin – Egungun masks performance

Not your average mother daughter travel destination 😉 Amazing to be able to immerse ourselves into the voudon / voodoo / animism culture in Benin, to connect with women and share the experience.

The Egungun masks performance at Minifin around Dassa Zoume. 

The honoring of the dead who are to be send on in peace. As no one was dead in this case they marked celebrating their ancestors and life. 

The masks symbolize the people reminded. 

We were allowed to sit on benches. I went to sit with the women. The kids are always a great icebreaker.

Then the women went to dance, sing and clapping to participate in the performance and we joined for some clapping and dancing. 💃🏼 it was fun and they were laughing with us, taking this as a sign of interest and respect. 

We are still in the northern part of Benin. 

We are cautious of security as yesterday while we crossed the border from Togo to Benin there were the deadliest attack from Jihadists that killed 28 soldiers in the North Eastern part of Benin. It’s reported 40 Jihadists were killed as they attacked the military stronghold. It seems Jihadist rests in northern Benin and Togo in the national parks after being active in the countries north of us, ie Niger and Burkina Faso. Between 2020-24, 120 soldiers have been killed by Jihadist insurgents. Benin and Togo would rather be without them. The do get help help from the USA, France and Belgium.