plan your journey

the great Vodun festival takes place each year around January 10th — the most intense, most alive, most resonant moment in ouidah's soul. thousands of pilgrims arrive from Benin and across the diaspora. come in January to feel it. come in the dry seasons — november to march, or july to august — to understand it without the crowds. ceremonies are more intimate, conversations run deeper.

walk slowly. in convents, temples and ceremonies, always ask permission before photographing — especially faces and ritual objects. some places formally forbid cameras. silence is often the most powerful form of respect. cover your shoulders and knees when visiting religious spaces. never point your finger at a python in the temple — being offered one to hold is an honour; pointing at it is disrespectful. accept what is offered to you (kola, water, salt): declining is perceived as rejecting hospitality.