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April 13, 2025

Benin: Voodoo’s Heartland

 

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America Rosales

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28 comments

  • Daniel Miramon

    I am surprised by how Voodoo serves as a significant foundation of Benin’s identity and culture, preserved through generations to safeguard traditions, beliefs, and rituals. African spiritual practices, particularly during the colonial era, represent a complex religion that emphasizes the importance of maintaining harmony with the spiritual world. This practice involves honoring ancestors and seeking healing, reflecting a deep connection to heritage and spirituality.

    One of the most promising aspects of this topic is the growth potential of Voodoo tourism. It offers a valuable opportunity to attract visitors seeking authentic spiritual and cultural experiences, which could lead to significant financial benefits for the community.

  • Nicholas Quintero

    I really enjoyed the hook for this infographic, playing into that mysterious nature of voodoo in Benin before going in to a deep dive of what exactly voodoo is and the significance it plays not just in Benin, but in Africa and how diverse it, really explaining voodoo in depth for the audience who may have had no previous knowledge or experience with this. I also enjoyed the structure that was easy to follow with your hook, your relevant information, and your conclusion, making it very easy to follow along and remain engaged in this topic, very well done!

  • Michael Ortiz

    America, I really liked how you captured the deep connection between Voodoo and the culture of Benin. You went beyond surface-level facts and really made it clear that Voodoo is not just a religion but an important part of everyday life for many people. Your visuals were colorful and vibrant, and they helped bring your points to life in a way that was easy to follow. I also appreciated how you explained the positive impact Voodoo has on tourism, cultural identity, and even the economy. You clearly put a lot of effort into showing the bigger picture, and it made your project very interesting to read. Great job connecting history, culture, and modern-day life in a meaningful way.

  • Bella Gutierrez

    I was surprised to read that Voodoo is still practiced in Benin. I wasn’t aware it was even practiced in Africa. My favorite part of the infographic was the pictures of the people practicing the religion. I think the space in the infographic could be better utilized to show more information or have a better flow. Good job!

  • I was surprised to read about voodoo in Benin, which I usually associate with Haiti. I didn’t know it was practiced in Benin as well. You wrote that voodoo actually has its origin in Benin. I really appreciated you dispelling allegations and misconceptions about voodoo, such as the assertion that voodoo is malevolent or evil.

  • Ixchel Mireles

    Hello America,

    The way you portrayed Voodoo in a light that is not dark or scary is magnificent capturing beauty in something that is seen as a sensitive topic for people because they are scared. The rich culture that combines the arts of the world such as music, dance, art, and festivals are all attributes that bring communities together. The incorporation of the allegations vs. Truth spectrum is a nice touch especially since the colonial era and now social media were able to twist the religion focus to the public. I had no idea that many people travel internationally yearly to experience authentic spiritual and cultural activities surrounding Voodoo. The community development that is integrated in the practice is something that is not talked about enough or just gets overlooked. What would be a great way to spread awareness for Voodoo to demolish the stereotype that it has?

  • Lashanna Hill

    What surprised me about learning about this country was learning the origins of Voodo since the 17th century. The best part of the infographic was the information regarding the misconceptions of voodoo. How it is a complex religion that centers ancestors, harmony, seeking, healing and the spiritual world. Excellent job.

  • Karicia Gallegos

    Something I learned about Benin is that voodoo is a big way of life. The best part of this infographic is the graphics, I especially love the tree graphic with the moon and stars. This infographic is very visually appealing. Overall, I really enjoyed reading your infographic, you did a great job!

  • Sunny Ngethe

    Hi America! This infographic is so unique and I truly think you chose I really amazing topic and an even more interesting country. We do not hear a lot about Voodoo as a society unless it’s in a negative light so not only to get some coverage on Benin but to see a new perspective on voodoo was really intriguing, I love how you showed how it is integrated into the society. My only feedback is that a few of the images chosen are not easy to see, having clearer images would really pull the infographic together more!

  • Carollann Serafin

    1) The topic revolved around Voodoo and what the real meaning of it is as it is often misinterpreted and it was interesting to learn the meaning f it and how it is used and practiced daily. We learn about its roots and how it came to be.
    2) Religion is important too me and when someone misunderstands something that is not correct it is nice to see the corrections that were made to takeaway the negative perspective voodoo typically has.
    3) I think the use of photos and the layout really tell a story and I enjoyed learning and reading about this topic as it is not something I would normally reach for!

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