Page 21 - Cape-Camera-October-2023

Cape Camera October 2023

Opposite page:A
Whirling Dervish
and voodoo priest.
Above left: Fishing
from a dugout.
Above: Ganvie, the
village on stilts.

Far left: Inside the
python temple.
Left: Benin fashion.
Below: A voodoo
ceremony.
Photographic trip to Benin (continued)

da. Having previously spent time in stereotyped negative image of voodoo
the tropics I found the climate hot and practices promoted by Hollywood, I
humid, but manageable. We did not never felt threatened. I imagine some
venture further than about 50km from of the ceremonies were orchestrated
the coast, and this had an ameliorating (and paid for) by Kirsten for our exclu-
effect on the level of discomfit experi- sive benefit. This was, however, never
enced. In contrast to my expectation obvious and if it did happen it did not
that Benin would mainly be tropical for- detract from the experience.
est, it consists primarily of scrubland. Opportunities for street photography of
I was told that Benin’s economy con- village life were widespread, assisted by
sists mainly of the export of limestone the fact that the people of Benin gener-
and cotton. However, during the entire ally enjoy having their photograph tak-
course of my stay I found it most cu- en. Most of the photography occurred
rious to not see one farm of any type during daylight, outside the golden
whatsoever. hours, or indoors, which are challeng-
Benin and surrounding countries are ing photographic environments.
also known for 5,000 or so artefacts known as the Benin I only began taking photography seriously fairly recent-
Bronzes most of which regretfully currently reside in the ly and therefore found Kirsten’s assistance invaluable in
museums of first world countries. These bronzes, most- helping select the appropriate camera settings for wide-
ly created in the 13th to 16th centuries, are from the ly varying scenes. One or two attempts at night pho-
former Kingdom of Benin. They were looted by British tography were less successful.
colonial troops who invaded Benin City, the kingdom’s Would I recommend Benin as a photographic destina-
wealthy capital, in 1897. Recently steps have begun to tion? Definitely, but it depends what genre of photogra-
repatriate at least some of the bronze artefacts to the phy you are looking for. The cost? Let’s just say I hope
source of their origin. my wife does not ask! In retrospect, having a bit more
We attended a number of voodoo ceremonies. They in- background to the various religions and festivals and
volve most, if not all, of the local community, sometimes culture before I arrived in Benin would have enriched
numbering hundreds of participants. In contrast to the my experience.

Cape Town Photographic Society 21