Urbanization has had an impact on the sacred forests of Benin, the birthplace of Voodoo.

Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, is home to a unique spiritual practice - Vodoun or Voodoo. Approximately 11% of the population in Benin are practitioners of this ancient religion, and the lush forests of the country are believed to be the homes of the sacred spirits.
However, the forests have become vulnerable to anti-Voodoo attackers over the years and now face further threats due to urbanization. People living in the village of Houeyogbe claim that they saw an increase in illnesses and inexplicable deaths after agreeing to allow the government to cut down the forests. There are also reports of some employees working in a gas station, which stands on the grounds where the sacred forest, Aveleketezou, once stood, stating that they filled cars up with gas which then turned into water.

Dada Daagbo Hounon Hounan II, the World’s Supreme Spiritual Voodoo Chief, raised awareness about the negative consequences of deforestation. He said that when humans destroy the environment, it has consequences that will impact everyone in time and space.

The Circle for Safeguarding of Natural Resources is a local organization that helps raise awareness about the dangers of deforestation while showing residents how to monetize from the forest’s natural resources through honey-making and snail farming. Bienvenu Bossou, the executive director of the group, told Africa News that Benin’s sacred forests are diminishing at an alarming rate. He pointed out that the main threat to the forests is agriculture, which is caused by poverty. The government has taken steps to protect the forests by banning cutting down trees without state approval. They have also invested approximately USD 3 billion into culture and tourism, which will help preserve the forests indirectly.

Vodou practitioners believe that when sacred spirits are disturbed, they can inflict sickness, death and war. The Associated Press has not been able to verify these claims, however, the government is taking measures to ensure the protection of these sacred forests.

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