REAL Vodou Ritual in Benin (Voodoo in West Africa) - 🇧🇯

If you were ever wondering what followers of vodou, vodun, or voodoo actually do - this is the video to watch. As a travel writer and journalist who has been all over the world, the last thing I thought I would be doing was taking part in real vodou ceremonies.
Here in Benin, but all throughout West Africa, vodou belief is one that is as respected as any of the traditional religions. In fact, some people practice both Christianity and Vodou, and here in Benin, it's an official religion. Today I'm at Place Dancoli, a truly secret dug out off the side of the highway, several miles outside of the capital city of Cotonou.
There is virtually no information about this place on the internet, so it was something I had to see for myself. When I arrived, I witnessed a clearing in the forest. A congregation was standing around two gint mounds, each representing a vodun fetish that must be appeased for whatever you might be looking for.
These mounds were about 15-20 feet high and roughly 150 years old, mounds of goat sacrifices, chicken bones and feathers, and palm oil that collect over time. These two mounds represent the male and female energy of the Dancoli fetish, hence the name of this hidden place - Place Dancoli.
People from all over Benin, and even neighboring countries, come here to ask for help in love, finance, or good health. Many come with specific requests. And if the request comes true, it is required that followers come back to this very spot and complete the offering to this vodou god.
As far as I know, I am one of the first people to document this area for KZbin, but I went a step further. With my cameras rolling, I asked the local spiritualists to assist me in making an offer to Dancoli.
Offerings involve hard cash, goat meat, copious amounts of pungent, red palm oil, and an incredibly strong grain liquor - all of which are sold at nearby stalls should anyone arrive emptyhanded.
To make an offering to the fetish, there is definitely a step by step process involved, and these men, sort of Bishops of the vodou religion, helped me do everything correctly.
I'd love to know what you liked about this video. If you learned something today, please click the subscribe button, like the video, and help get underreported stories like these some traction on KZbin.
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Please consider supporting this work at www.patreon.com/WhereJodyAt
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Thanks to Jean Paul Houndagnon who helped show us around. Jean Paul will help you organize any trip through West Africa. Contact Jean-Paul on Instagram at: @jplhoundagnon_32 or call/message him on WhatsApp at: [phone]
Special thanks to Ben Dome (@ImSoCurious ) for helping shoot this! Go check his channel out and subscribe!
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THIS EPISODE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY MY PRODUCER PATREONS:
◉ MICHAEL WRIGHT - Producer
◉ ALAN SIMPSON - Producer
◉ SHAYLYN BROUSSARD - Producer
◉ CHRIS RUTLAND - Producer
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#africa #benin #voodoo #africancultures #travel #vlogger #vodou #togo #nigeria #traditionalmedicine

[@WhereJodyAt]

Will I have to return to Benin or be cursed? Stay tuned...

[@catchyalater]

I'll go for you

[@munjiisimwaagoodjobladies5915]

Serialeon

[@RoggerHenning]

Whenever you have a problem bothering you, buy that type of alcohol, pour it full in a short glass cup and pray for your wellness, pour it a little from the glass cup you’ve prayed to in the floor not wooden floor, but could be tiles or concrete. Torch the spot where you pour the drink 3 times and touch in the center of your head. If you have anyone around with you, dy can touch the spot too and put on their head, and share the remaining alcohol with anyone around or only you can drink. Good luck. The gods are everywhere..👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@Obinn80]

Does this work?

[@carterjohn57]

I have visited Dancolie twice. In 2007 and 2019. I didn't make a sacrifice I don't want to break my promise to return the sacred site and offend the ancestors.

[@emmanuelokyere2815]

Please give me the directions, from Ghana

[@Youngwavy8]

Where is this located?

[@WhereJodyAt]

Benin.

[@Youngwavy8]

@@WhereJodyAt where in Benin because I will love to go

[@WhereJodyAt]

It's in the video.@@Youngwavy8

[@homepcmacbook5996]

​@@WhereJodyAtbut where exactly

[@emmanuelokyere2815]

Please give me directions from Ghana to come

[@carterjohn57]

Dancoli is located on RNIE 3 about 15 kilometers directly North of town of Savalou, Benin.

[@Dizzyrizzy777]

What’s the name of that alcohol?

[@WhereJodyAt]

Sodabi

[@Dizzyrizzy777]

@@WhereJodyAt thank you!

[@laurentkevin4689]

Woah