Voodoo Day celebrated in Benin

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Thousands of followers have gathered in Benin in the seaside town of Ouidah to celebrate National Voodoo Day.
They met at a beach called the point of no return, where slaves left on ships for the Americas centuries ago, taking their religion with them.

Followers of the once-banned religion have been dancing, drumming, praying as animals are slaughtered in ceremonies.

Of Benin's seven million citizens, 65% believe in Voodoo. The day has been a national holiday for a decade.

"There is little resembling the popular Western imagination on show - no dolls with pins stuck in them and certainly no zombie-like creatures lumbering around," described the BBC's James Copnall, who is at the festival.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4599392.stm