BENIN

  Ouidah was one of Africa's main centers for the slave trade, where nearly 70% of enslaved Africans were transported to the U.S., Brazil, and Europe, enriching those regions. The “Door of No Return” and the “Route of the Slaves” honor this tragic history. On ships and in markets, prisoners used percussion with bones and other items to survive, keeping their identity alive and resisting oppression. At the Temple of Snakes, hundreds of sacred pythons roam freely in the village, symbolizing the connection of these protective spirits with the community.