The Voodoo cult originated in Benin or rather the kingdom of Dahomey from the 16th century. In Ouidah, this religion is omnipresent and it comes into its own in the Sacred Forest of Kpassé which is located, due to urbanization, just on the outskirts of the city. Over time, his domain has shrunk to just 8 ha instead of the original 20 ha. This poses the problem of its sustainability, which has raised awareness among young people in Ouidah and associations.
Surrounded by walls, the site is divided into two parts. One accessible to the uninitiated that we are, can be visited with a guide. The other is reserved for Voodoo ceremonies and is only accessible to initiates. A large cave-shaped door separates it from the rest with two passages on the sides, the men on the left and the women on the right.
The part that we visit is a green enclosure with species from the region including kapok trees, palm trees and a large iroko that sits right in the middle. At the bottom, we can see a basic construction where there is another Iroko which is sacred to him, that of King Kpassé Loko, founder of the place in the 17th century. He was then protected by a house intended for him. Round boxes of "Gozinxo" devotions are just next to it, one for women, the other for men.
This enclosure is amazing, because it is a pantheon of the main deities of Voodoo adorned with their attributes. Each of them is placed on a base to appear well to the visitor. As soon as you enter, you cross a passage framed by two roaring male and female panthers, guardians of the place. Gradually, we discover each divinity with in particular, the famous God Tolegba, of fertility, with his two horns and his prominent phallus, which impresses!
Further, a metallic character, which looks like a ramshackle robot, is the God of Thunder with his body in the shape of a cauldron surmounted by a round head from which emerges a tube ending in a curved pipe. From his body emerge symbolic flashes worthy of a child's drawing. Its very thin arms in rusty tube, each carry a long stem ending in a cone and a rounded tube. Here you can also find "the Genie" Voodoo version, who looks like a brave peasant, with his colorful and scalloped short tunic. We will not forget "the Diviner" who takes the position of the thinker as well as the "Man with two Faces" who protects the King with his exceptional vision. Other venerables are also part of the pantheon like "Héviesso" with its massive body, its threatening shark's head from which 4 horns emerge. He has two huge swords in each hand. He is the female side of Thunder and much more threatening than the frail male. He is helped in his function by dwarfs, who have the same huge head and who are covered with small bombs to trigger the storm. It's great fun!!
In front of the entrance to the Sacred Forest reserved for followers, you can see wooden posts carved with the different kings who have succeeded each other on the throne of Ouidah. Right next to it, the "Rainbow Serpent" reminds us that the world is destined for eternity and an endless quest.
Each year, at the time of the Lunar New Year, so-called Epé Ekpé ceremonies take place under the direction of high priests. The sacred stone of Guins and Minas from the identical festivities that take place on the Togo side at the Voodoo spiritual center of Glidji, near Aného, is brought here for the New Year celebrations. They are the subject of dances with ceremonies of purifications, divinations and sacrifices to honor the gods and appease their anger..
