In the seaside town of Ouidah on Tuesday, Benin conducted its annual Voodoo festival where practitioners of the formerly outlawed religion danced and prayed.

The festival is drawing people of African descent from America, Brazil and the Caribbean who are seeking to discover the religion and land of their ancestors who were shipped away from the beaches of West Africa, the AFP news agency reports.

"We come here first to search for our origins and reconnect with Mother Earth," a tourist is quoted as saying.

The traditional leader of the Voodoo cult, Daagbo Hounon Houna II, mingled with local adherents and tourists during the festival.

There were rituals involving prayers and libations. Followers also watched Zangbeto rituals — whirling dancers dressed as guardians of the night.

There were also displays of fetishes that are said to have supernatural powers.

Source: BBC