We entered Benin and visited Ganvie, Africa's largest village on stilts. Ganvie is spread across Lac Nokoue with the wood and thatch houses built above the water. When the Dan-Homey kings armies were capturing people in the countryside to sell in the Portuguese slave trade, the people of Ganvie were saved from slavery by the Dan-Homey religious traditions...they were forbidden to attack communities on the water.
The people in this unique fishing village live exclusively from fishing (along with a little tourism), use pirogues (canoes) and have a system of underwater plantings that form fences to trap and breed fish. You can visit by catching a motorized boat or pirogue across the lagoon. ...View image...
fishing on Lac Nokoue
There was also a colorful market on the water. The local women sell their vegetables and other goods from their canoes
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Ganvie water market
poling along with their wares
I loved the village with its great big Coke sign displayed...nothing like a little tourism and Coke advertising...View image
Along the road, hand-made pottery was being sold...
pottery along the road
... and there was a never-ending procession of people gracefully carrying items on their heads with perfect balance and poise...without dropping a single thing...
carrying heavy pots
carrying purchases
Still to come was the Gelede Fon Mask Fesival in the afternoon....
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Published by Sheila Simkin on January 4, 2007 01:24 PM
