celebration Vodun and spirituality
Vodun Days: the national Vodun festival
Every January 10, Benin celebrates Vodun Days — the official national Vodun festival. Dive into this celebration that draws thousands of visitors from all over the world.
The birth of an official holiday
In 1992, President Nicéphore Soglo made January 10 official as National Vodun Day. This historic decision recognized Vodun as a major cultural and spiritual heritage of Benin.
Since 2024, the event has been renamed Vodun Days (a festival over several days) with cultural activities, dances and ceremonies open to the public.
Rituals and performances
Vodun Days are a chance to witness ceremonies normally reserved for initiates:
The Zangbeto are particularly spectacular: these raffia-covered figures spin around and seem empty when lifted.
An international festival
Every year, Vodun Days draw thousands of visitors: researchers, artists, descendants of the African diaspora from Haiti, Brazil, Cuba or the United States coming to reconnect with their spiritual roots.
A unique experience
Ouidah and its Slave Route are the heart of the celebrations. Attending a Vodun Day means experiencing Africa at its deepest and most authentic.
Benin, the cradle of Vodun
Vodun Days are much more than a festival: they are the affirmation of a thousand-year-old spiritual identity, shared by millions of people on 4 continents.
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