Fetish Markets and Temples in West Africa

Shopping Essentials

What’s in store: Potions, spells & human remains.
Best Buy: Voodoo love potion
Best Avoided: Cast iron penises
What’s it worth: Imports of fetish items can reach several hundred US dollars

Fetish Temples in Benin

Benin, a small country just west of Nigeria and south of Niger is a land of sleepy lagoons and bold mountainous plateaux. The town of Abomey hosts the intriguingly named Fetish Temple, and as many of the population practice the ancient art of Voodoo, it’s not surprising that much of the markets specialize in dark magic, voodoo and fetishism.

Fetish Market in Togo

Akodessewas in Togo is the world’s largest fetish market with an array of sorcerers potions, monkey skulls, crocodile skins, porcupine skins, monkey skulls, wart hogs teeth…. in fact locals say you can buy anything from here, even human remains. It’s where to buy everything for Voodoo – amulet, potions and magic. It is said you can cure any ailment using Voodoo, from illness to impotence and ugliness. The people of Togo believe that spirits are everywhere and participate in sacrifices, take care not to tread on the sacred soil outside of their houses which may contain the rements of last night’s animal sacrifice or food offering.

Fetish items include witchcraft and the sexual; a cast iron penis “for sexual performance improvement” retails at around $250 to import to the western world. For the more romantic visitor, you can buy traditional love potions.

More information:

The Niger Bend – BENIN
Imported African arts available to buy online including Benin fetish items

Shopping for crafts, textiles and wearable art in West Africa
Africa Travel Magazine guide to craft shopping in Merkato, Addis Ababa, Togo and Ethiopia.