Benin is considered the home of voodoo, a religion often portrayed as black magic. Many voodoo rituals are shrouded in mystery and misunderstood. Local children spend months and even years behind the convent walls because their parents believe it would appease the spirits in case of an illness or bad luck. In voodoo monasteries, kids are given new names and are forbidden to speak their native language. Instead, they study voodoo customs and language as they are initiated into the secrets. Activists from organisations like ReSPESD seek to reduce the time children spend in convents and give them a chance to live freely. Hear from voodoo priests, local kings and children about life inside the convents and what voodoo means to them.
Authors
Voodoo Brides
