Vodun Hwendo Tour 2020
Studying masquerade traditions of the Yoruba-Nagot people
In January 2020 I was fortunate bought to receive an amazing opportunity to travel to Africa with a small representative of the Rada people of Trinidad, who trace their ancestry to the Kingdom of Dahomey, now known as Benin. My interest was to study masquerade traditions of the Yoruba-Nago people for my current solo performance arts project, Black Light. This trip was self-funded. In Benin I saw everything I had wanted to and more as a guest of the Royal Palace of Dada Daagbo Honoun Houna II. The tour (Vodun Hwendo) was organized by members of the Royal Family. I was treated like family, carried everywhere safely and provided for. We had front row seats, as you can imagine, to all the festivities at the Vodoun Festival in Oudah. The people I met there I feel eternally connected to, and look forward to returning again.
Below is a great compilation of video taken by the Vodoun Hwendo people. You can see it on my face and in my body how relaxed and at peace I am!
I will also be uploading all of the photos and videos I took to archive that moment in time.
A big thank you to the his Majeste Dada Daagbo Hounon Houna and the Royal Family!
A big thank you to Mr. Henry Antoinne, Ms. Phil Antoinne, Ms. Veronica Antoinne and Mr. Avery Ammond for embracing me like a daughter!
Peace to Africa’s children wherever you are in the world!
May we continue in the footer of the ancestors and return to the traditions they practiced!
Ayibobo.
