Benin

Benin is the cradle of Vodun and the Dahomey kingdom, rich in appliqué cloth, bronze casting and royal drumming.

Spirituality & rites Textile & dress Crafts Music & dance Building & habitat

Knowledge in this place

Vodun worship

Vodun worship

Vodun honours a pantheon of deities through shrines, offerings and trance dance.

Spirituality & rites

Abomey appliqué banners

Abomey appliqué banners

Royal tailors of Abomey stitch appliqué cloths recording Dahomey kings' deeds.

Textile & dress

Lost-wax brass casting

Lost-wax brass casting

Casters use the lost-wax method to make brass figures and ritual objects.

Gelede masked dance

Gelede masked dance

The Yoruba-Nago Gelede pairs songs and carved masks to honour mothers.

Ganvié stilt building

Ganvié stilt building

Tofinu people build a lake village of stilt houses with palm and bamboo.

Building & habitat