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Timeline of vodun

The key dates of the history of vodun, from the first text written in a Gbe language to the Vodun Days of 2027. Each date comes from an entry of the encyclopedia, where it is sourced: click it to read more.

  1. 1658

    A catechism, the Doctrina Christiana, is translated into the language of Allada: one of the oldest texts written in a Gbe language.

  2. 1704

    The Dutch merchant Willem Bosman describes the snake cult of Ouidah. Read

  3. 1708

    Tasi Hangbè rules Dahomey until 1711, and brings Sakpata into Abomey. Read

  4. 1715

    The Fâ is introduced into Dahomey, early in King Agaja’s reign, by a priest of Ifá from Ile-Ife. Read

  5. 1721

    The Portuguese complete the fort of São João Baptista de Ajudá, in Ouidah. Read

  6. 1724

    King Agaja of Dahomey conquers the kingdom of Allada.

  7. 1727

    Agaja conquers the Hueda kingdom: Ouidah becomes Abomey’s port, and the cult of Dangbé settles there. Read

  8. 1730

    Father Labat describes the processions to the “house of the great Serpent” in Ouidah. Read

  9. 1858

    Around this date, Akati Ekplékendo forges the iron statue dedicated to Gou, for King Glele. Read

  10. 1864

    In Porto-Novo, the sacred forest of Hèviosso sets the high priest against the missionaries. Read

  11. 1892

    Facing the French advance, King Behanzin has Abomey and its palaces set on fire. Read

  12. 1905

    The Sakété revolt, the oldest insurrection against colonial rule in Dahomey. Read

  13. 1909

    The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is built in Ouidah, facing the Temple of Pythons. Read

  14. 1931

    The anthropologist Melville Herskovits works in Abomey; his book Dahomey appears in 1938. Read

  15. 1937

    Louis Hunkanrin writes his study of the Zangbéto, the guardian of the night of Porto-Novo. Read

  16. 1943

    Bernard Maupoil publishes the reference study of the Fâ. Read

  17. 1955

    Pierre Verger records the annual ceremony of Shango and its batá drums in Sakété. Read

  18. 1958

    Alfred Métraux publishes Voodoo in Haiti. Read

  19. 1985

    The royal palaces of Abomey are inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Read

  20. 1993

    The Ouidah 92 festival brings together artists and the diaspora, in February. Read

  21. 1996

    First official celebration of 10 January, the festival of traditional religions. Read

  22. 2003

    Haiti recognises vodou as a religion in its own right. Read

  23. 2008

    UNESCO inscribes Gèlèdè and the Ifá divination system on the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Read

  24. 2021

    France returns to Benin 26 works from the royal treasures of Abomey.

  25. 2024

    First Vodun Days in Ouidah, in January; a law sets the festival on the second Friday of January. Read

  26. 2025

    UNESCO grants Benin assistance to prepare the nomination of vodun to the intangible heritage. Read

  27. 2026

    On 17 March, Benin and Haiti submit a joint nomination to UNESCO for their vodou. Read

  28. 2027

    The Vodun Days take place in Ouidah from 2 to 9 January, with the national festival on Friday 8. Read