Page 20 - Cape-Camera-October-2023

Cape Camera October 2023

My photographic adventure in Benin

Exclusive photographic time with a voodoo priest, visiting a temple where

pythons range freely, time in a village built on stilts ... these are but a few

of the extraordinary adventures ROGER TRYTHALL experienced during his

photographic trip to Benin. He related the tale to BRIAN JONES

I visited Benin almost by accident. In the advanced stag- wearing elaborate masks and costumes, a temple de-
es of making arrangements for a photographic trip to voted to pythons, a village built on stilts, net fishermen
Burkina Faso with Kirsten Frost of Frost Photo Safaris, operating from dugouts, and a trip to the infamous Gate
he advised me that Burkina Faso was no longer a good of No Return beach, which was the embarking point for
idea due to political unrest. Aware of my interest in pho- the multitudes of slaves shipped to the Americas. Also,
tographing festivals and ceremonies, street scenes and my parents had worked in West Africa, and this added
historical buildings in cultures that differ greatly from to my interest.
my own, Kirsten recommended Benin as an alternative. Initially quite ignorant of the country, I discovered that
(I have been called an anthropomorphic photographer by Benin is on the south coast of the bulge of Africa, tucked
someone who knows me well.) in between Nigeria and Togo. It is a Francophone coun-
try, and has 42 distinct ethnic groups. The most wide-
The trip would afford me the opportunity to visit isolat- spread tribe are the Yoruba, who occupy a swathe of
ed rural towns to photograph, inter alia, colourful voo- West Africa across a number of the bulge countries. The
doo festivals and ceremonies with swirling dervishes rainy season is to be avoided — the main dry season is
from December to April, with a short cooler dry season
Highlights of the trip from late July to early September. Malaria prophylactics

• A visit to the palace of a Yoruba king. are recommended.
• Exclusive photographic time with a Voodoo priest So, February of this year found me undertaking a most
in his temple memorable trip across the southern areas of Benin with
• A visit to Ganvie — Africa’s largest town built on my Olympus E-M1 mk ii. I was in the company of Kirst-
stilts (the Venice of Africa), connected to the world en, one other paying photographer, a local guide and a
by dugout canoe. driver. During the course of 10 days we overnighted at
• The python temple with its free-range pythons. 6 different locations — Benin is very much a develop-
• The various costumes and masks and dancing in- ing country and most of the accommodation can be de-
volved in their cultural festivals and religious cere- scribed as basic, but acceptable.
monies.
Access to Benin was by air from South Africa via Ruan-
20 Cape Town Photographic Society