Voodoo everywhere

The head chief being fanned while watching the festivities

I'm on a row here.  Second post on the same day.  This is a record for me.  Anyway, same day as the photo exhibit, there was also a festival, "Festival des Divinités Noires" or Festival of Black Divinities.  It's a celebration of voodoo.  Now normally this stuff would freak me out; however, people were so excited about it that I couldn't help but be intrigued.  I decided to be an amateur photographer and take in the activities of the day. The festival was in this huge open field with stadium style seats.  As I sat down I noticed everyone bowing down to great a man dressed in white.  Wasn't sure who he was at first because the chiefs were sitting in the front row with their crowns.  But this man was sitting in a nicer chair and had two women fanning him.  So apparently he was someone of importance.  However, all I could think about was that I would hate to be one of those chicks fanning him.  I mean they were doing that for hours...must be tiring.  Nonetheless, I asked my homologue who the mystery man was.  Apparently, he's the chief of all chiefs...well he's the chief of most of the villages along Lake Togo (and there are several), so he's a big deal.  

The magic show

Anyway, first there was a bit of a magic show where a dancer got his costume to move without him in it.  That was pretty cool.  There was so much going on at the time that I couldn't get a clear picture...you know I am an amateur.

After the magic show there was a series of performers.  A few stood out to me.  First one that stood out was this group of male dancers.  The head dancer was this older man that looked to be between 65 - 70 years old.  This man was awesome, he moved better then the rest.  I was very impressed.  

Photo Exhibit in Aneho

I got to tag along with my homologue (work counterpart) as he was aiding a french photographer in a photo exhibit in Aneho.  Besides Lomé, Aneho is the closest city to Agbodrafo.  It also is the prefecture for Agbo.  Coming from a smaller village, I had no idea stuff like this existed in Togo.  Well, at least outside of Lomé.  


Anyway, the experience was WONDERFUL.  The photos were taken last year in Agbodrafo and Aneho.  It showcases everything from the slave houses to voodoo traditions to the spectacular beaches.  I enjoyed it so much I thought I would share a few photos.  

Pierre (photograher), Claude (friend/assist), DJ, Dieudonne (my homologue)

The exhibit was held at the library in Aneho (and I might add, it was a pretty nice library).   We (the french photographer, his friend/assistant, my homologue, and two other people assisting my homologue) arrived in Aneho 10am to set up and prepare for the exhibit. The showcasing was to start at 2:30pm.  So after setting up, we headed to the local radio station to advertise a bit for the event.

Work wise I didn't do much.  However, the experience did give me a few work ideas.  I'm hoping after the holidays to create a website that showcases the attractions of Agbo to help increase tourism.  Hopefully I can get the ball rolling after the holidays.  On va voir.  Anyway, here are the photos....enjoy!

The good and bad of Agbo...

Okay, so anyone who knows me know that I'm deathly afraid of bugs.  So of course being in Africa makes sense, right?  Yeah, I know.  Anyway, I'm officially starting to go crazy.  I've been living in Agbo for about a week and have seen countless spiders, a mouse, a roach and a scorpion.  All in a week.  Every night when I get in bed (before tucking in my mosquito net) I'm shaking my sheets making sure I don't have any visitors.  It's getting pretty ridiculous, and this is just the beginning. At least in Kabou, there was spiders and the occasional frog on my porch.  Being that I love taking pictures, it sucks that I don't have any bug pics to show.  I get too freaked out.  


Anyway, on a brighter note, the street food in Agbo is GREAT.  I've never really cared for street food before, mainly because it's so unsanitary.  But you tend to get over a lot of things living in Togo.  I love my bissaps, which are made from the Hibiscus flower and normally mixed with sugar, citron, and/or sometimes ginger.  It could be served hot or cold but normally in Togo it's cold and served in a bag.  Another favorite is beans and gari.  I don't know much about gari besides its made from cassava.  However, when finished it's white and grainy.  I know...not much of a description.  I will take a pic one day.  Oh, I also love my meat man.  Normally every evening you see the meat man grilling meat on a stick and dipping it in pepper...DELICIOUS.  Oh the list goes on but I'm starting to get hungry so I'm going to stop now...

Here's me sucking the life out of a bissap drink

My friend Lucian drinking a bissap too...he loves it too, can you tell?  LOL