For six weeks, I traveled across Togo alongside my partner, Margaux Chaboche, to produce a photo and video documentary, with the support of a local association, as part of the creation of the Voodoo Museum in Lomé and its visual communication. This journey took us to the heart of Voodoo rites and traditions, through encounters with priests, sacred sites, and communities that continue to preserve this ancestral belief system.
We attended the largest annual Voodoo festival, held near the border with Benin, capturing the intensity of the ceremonies and the devotion of the worshippers. Through interviews and immersive fieldwork, the documentary seeks to contextualize the gradual decline of this animist religion in a country where spirituality remains central to everyday life.
One of the main objectives of this project was to deconstruct the often dramatized misconceptions surrounding Voodoo by exploring its origins, practices, and role within Togolese society. Beyond its spiritual dimension, Voodoo raises essential social, economic, and environmental issues, which we aimed to highlight through both images and narrative.
The rituals, both fascinating and controversial are marked by rich symbolism and striking aesthetics. They include practices such as ritual scarification, animal sacrifice, and the use of Voodoo as an alternative to conventional medicine. This last aspect is largely explained by the lack of medical resources, adequate infrastructure, and qualified healthcare professionals, a reality that affects many regions of the country. Deeply rooted in local culture and spirituality, these practices raise important questions about their social impact and their place in contemporary society.
At the same time, Voodoo represents a precious cultural heritage, weaving a profound connection between nature, humanity, and the history of African religions. Beyond controversy, these practices embody a living memory and the transmission of knowledge and beliefs that deserve to be preserved. They reflect a deeply rooted spirituality, a unique relationship with the sacred, and a worldview shaped by centuries of tradition. Preserving this heritage means protecting an essential part of African cultural identity.