Vodun and artistic creation: metalworking in Abomey

Witness to the birth, heyday and fall of the Danxom¿ kingdom, Abomey (Agbom¿ in Fongbe) has a fascinating history and dense culture. Among the city's community of artisans are the metal workers or metalliers (ganz¿wat¿), who draw inspiration from the creations of their ancestors who were once artists in the service of the Danxom¿ monarchs. Their productions can be purely aesthetic or both aesthetic and cultic. In either case, metalwork in Abomey is imbued with Vodun culture.A religious system that embraces several cults intimately linked to nature and the immediate environment of its adherents, Vodun has inspired many metalworking practices in the region. Professionals in this sector consider their trades to be governed by Vodun Gu. Indeed, even today, when other forms of spirituality rub shoulders with Vodun, the latter remains their primary source of inspiration.

Pagina's: 84, Paperback, Our Knowledge Publishing