I'm visiting all 54 African countries without flying. Bénin republic and Togo

Bénin ,along with Togo are the headquarters of Voodoo not just in Africa but worldwide. The traditions of Bénin Voodoo are similar to the traditions of other places where enslaved Black Americans or their descendants were transported, such as Brazil, Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti. The names , practices and festivals are similar. In Benin divine spirits are called Orishas, in Brazil Orixa, and in Cuba Oricha.

To understand Better, I visited the Fetish Market at Dantokpa in Cotonou, where different people who claim to be Native doctors would perform Sacrifices for you for a fee. To be honest, the area smelt real bad , and I had the impression that the entire thing was full of gimmicks for tourists. Here is how it looked.

The goat is to cure cerebral palsy in Children and the man seemed very sure of its efficacy

Unlike in Nigeria, Voodoo in Bénin is practiced openly and it is an accepted Religion.

I was reassured by several béninoises that Voodoo is not dangerous, but could only be used for Good or evil.

I saw carcasses of different animals including goats, eagles and even a buffalo. I was told To pay 10000 cefas(16$) for a money sacrifice. I quietly declined. It costs me about 1500 cefas (2.5$) for a tour and I think I got a good deal because I was accompanied by a local.

Another interesting side of Bénin is the North of Bénin, with quiet and peaceful cities such as Natitingou and Parakou. In Parakou You can visit the open air Museum and get acquainted with Fulani culture. Yes there are fulanis in Bénin just as there are in Most west African countries. A key takeaway is that the Fulani build their houses in concentric circles within their compounds with the Head of the family being at the center.

Béninoise Food as can be seen , takes influence from It's neighbors including Nigeria and Togo. The first is Akoume and Groundnut soup with legume sauce and it comes Highly recommended.

In Natitingou, one can head towards the Togo border to visit the Tata Sombas. The tata Sombas are a collection of huts, native to the Tata people or the Bantamaribas. They are built in such a way that they are two storeys and their architecture style is so unique that they are a UNESCO heritage monument.

Grains are stored on the second storey of the huts and can be accessed by climbing the stick. Interestingly the roofs of the grains store are light and detachable. One can also climb from the first storey downstairs with the same sturdy stick.

Another interesting place to see in Bénin is Ouidah, which was my last stop before heading to Togo. Ouidah is an old slave site- slaves from the interior were brought to Ouidah to face the harrowing Journey across the Atlantic. Hence Ouidah has such attractions as the slave route where they passed through, the slave market, and A point of No return. Actually, Ouidah may be the Town with the largest number of tourist attractions in the whole of Africa. It also has several museums , a python Temple and the sacred forest of King Kpasse. You may be wondering what a python Temple is. The people of Ouidah have a unique relationship with snakes specifically Pythons. As part of their own voodoo practice, they cherish pythons, who are not allowed to be killed and who frequently wander into people's homes. The story is that a python saved the founder of the town from his enemies and since then, they are commanded to take care of them the pythons themselves are harmless and at the temple, one can play with them, while a guide explains the myth and traditions of thr people of Ouidah.

The sacred forest of King Kpasse is a forest dedicated to one of the early kings of that land. It consists of various artisanal works and sculptures as well as shrines for prayers. The real life sculptures depict the gods and goddesses of the Ouidah people as well as several historical figures.

This depicts Tolegba, the God of fertility at the sacred forest.

The beaches of Ouidah are some of the most pristine around. Another popular Tourist attraction in Ouidah is the casa del papa, a beach resort with perfect views.

The Economy of Bénin

It costs just about 5000 cefas to get a resident permit and many Nigerians trade in Bénin. Goods are brought either into Bénin or out of Bénin , sometimes legally, sometimes not. Fuel especially is smuggled into Bénin and in exchange, Nigerians smuggle rice from Bénin- oftentimes it's the same person doing both trips. Otherwise Farming is a mainstay of the Béninoise economy. People also export second hand clothing out of Bénin, because for whatever reason it is cheaper there. Bénin is hospitable to most foreigners though- I talked to Nigerians who had been living there for many years peacefully.

After leaving Ouidah I headed to the Togo Border at Hilakonji about 90 mins away, my belly filled with good food and my heart with even better memories. I crossed into Togo late at night ready to explore country number 3 on my visit to all the 54 African countries.