"The Fetish" Natitingou Local Custom Tip by janiebaxter

As in most of Benin, the traditional religion plays an important part in daily life. The Tata has an area on the ground floor where Fetishes are kept to keep evil spirits away or to help solve a problem.
When we visited we noticed many feathers on the floor in the fetish room. When a young person wants to travel away from the village, perhaps to work or visit relatives in another area, the fetish is consulted to see if it is safe to travel. A Guinea Fowl is sacrificed – if it is squeaks when it is killed it is safe to travel.