Do I need to be a Vodun practitioner, African, or Black to join?
No. You do not need to practise Vodun, be African, or be Black to join us.
Everyone is welcome. Much like visiting a mosque, cathedral, temple, or other sacred space, you do not need to belong to the faith to respectfully experience and learn from its traditions.
We simply ask that you come with an open mind, genuine curiosity, and respect for the culture and practices you will encounter.
Why should I experience the festival with Art Continum?
This will be our fourth time organizing an experience around the Vodun Festival, and that familiarity matters.
The festival has its own rhythm. Processions move, schedules change, and many smaller ceremonies and festivities receive little public announcement. Visitors can easily be in Ouidah during the festival and still miss much of what is happening.
Our experience on the ground helps us understand how the festival moves and where to be. We also work with local partners, including individuals connected to Ouidah's royal family, who can provide additional cultural context and access throughout our time there.
What about language? Will I need to speak French?
No. Language should not be a barrier to participating in the experience.
Benin is a Francophone country, and French is widely used alongside local languages. Our Art Continum guides are fully bilingual in English and French, and some of the local guides and people we work with on the ground are bilingual as well.
Where conversations, explanations, or cultural interactions take place primarily in French, we will help translate and provide context for the group. This is particularly important during ceremonies and local encounters, where simply translating words may not fully explain the cultural meaning behind what is happening.
You do not need to speak French to join us. The purpose of having bilingual guides is to make the experience accessible, understandable, and culturally meaningful for both English- and French-speaking participants.
Why do I need to apply?
You do not need Art Continum to attend the Vodun Festival. The festival itself is open to everyone.
The application is specifically for joining our group.
Art Continum is not a conventional travel and tour company. We are intentionally bringing together a small group of like-minded, curious people who can experience the festival together and hopefully build friendships and relationships that extend beyond the trip.
We want participants who are interested in engaging with the culture rather than simply ticking another destination off a bucket list.
What will the programme include?
The Vodun Festival extends throughout Ouidah and includes processions, sacred ceremonies, street celebrations, exhibitions, concerts, live music, food, cultural programming, networking, and smaller community festivities.
During the festival, much of Ouidah becomes part of the experience. Our programme will combine major festival events with smaller experiences and opportunities to discover the city.
Are we going for the entire week from January 2–9?
While the 2027 celebrations run from January 2–9, our current plan is to experience the closing portion of the festival, approximately Wednesday, January 6 through Saturday, January 9.
We believe these final days will offer a particularly concentrated period of ceremonies, celebrations, performances, and other programming.
Final dates will be confirmed with selected participants.
What is there beyond the Vodun processions and ceremonies?
A lot.
The festival is also an opportunity to discover Ouidah itself, a historic coastal city with extraordinary cultural significance.
Beyond the ceremonies, there are exhibitions, concerts, food, music, historical sites, local communities, and the opportunity to experience a city that takes on an entirely different energy during the festival.
Where will we stay?
Accommodation is one of the most difficult things to secure during the festival.
Ouidah is a relatively small city, and the number of quality accommodation options is limited compared with the number of visitors arriving for the celebrations.
Staying in Cotonou, approximately 45 minutes away, is possible. However, there is something unique about actually staying in Ouidah: waking to drums, encountering early-morning processions, and experiencing the city before and after the day's major events.
For that reason, we encourage participants to commit early so that we have the best opportunity to secure appropriate accommodation in Ouidah.
How much will it cost?
The final cost will depend on the level of participation you choose.
Some participants may want a more comprehensive experience including accommodation, transportation, cultural programming, and other arrangements, while others may already have some of their logistics organized and simply want to participate in our programme.
We will communicate the available options and pricing to successful applicants so you can select what works best for you.
Why is the deposit non-refundable?
Many elements of the experience must be secured well in advance, particularly accommodation, transportation, guides, cultural programming, and other local arrangements.
Your deposit allows us to make these commitments on your behalf. Once these arrangements have been booked and paid for, we may not be able to recover those funds if you later decide not to participate.
For this reason, deposits are non-refundable.
How large will the group be?
No more than 10 participants.
Keeping the group small is intentional. It allows us to move more easily, maintain the quality of the experience, and create the kind of intimate group dynamic we are looking for.
Can I photograph the ceremonies?
Photography is generally possible throughout much of the festival, but participants must remain respectful of individual ceremonies, practitioners, and instructions given on the ground.
Drone photography requires appropriate authorization.
Where photography is restricted or inappropriate, we will communicate this to the group.
How do I apply?
Complete our short expression-of-interest application through the link below.
We will review your submission and contact successful applicants directly with further information about the programme, accommodation, transportation, pricing, and next steps.
Do I have to commit when I apply?
No. An application simply tells us that you are genuinely interested in joining the group.
If selected, you will receive further details about the experience and costs before being asked to make a financial commitment.
Can I attend the Vodun Festival without joining Art Continum?
Absolutely.
The Vodun Festival is a public cultural celebration and you do not need to join Art Continum to attend it.
What we are offering is a curated way of experiencing it: a small group, local knowledge, cultural context, organized programming, and the opportunity to navigate a festival that can otherwise be difficult for a first-time visitor to fully understand.
What kind of person is this experience for?
Someone curious.
You might be interested in culture, history, art, spirituality, photography, travel, food, or simply experiencing something unfamiliar.
You do not need specialist knowledge. What matters is that you are open-minded, respectful, adaptable, and genuinely interested in understanding the people and traditions around you.
Why are spaces so limited?
Because we are intentionally curating a group, not filling a tour bus.
A smaller group allows us to move with the rhythm of the festival, access more intimate experiences, adapt when opportunities arise, and, most importantly, create an environment where participants can actually get to know one another.
Maximum group size: 10 people.
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