Ouidah

2 records filed under this subject

The Voodoo Legacy: Religion and Culture in Modern Benin

Voodoo, or Vodun as it is properly known in the West Africa country of Benin (formerly the Kingdom of Dahomey), is more than just a religion in modern Benin. It is an intricate way of life, an official faith, and a pervasive force that shapes the country’s culture, art, philosophy, and identity. Far…

Trade and Transformation: The Rise of the “Slave Coast”

The stretch of coastline along the Bight of Benin, encompassing parts of modern Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria earned the grim moniker the “Slave Coast” during the height of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. This region was unique in its organized, centralized involvement in the trade, where powerful West African kingdoms, particularly Dahomey and the…