Perched professions

In Togo, dancing on stilts, a voodoo tradition

Audio 03:34

Dancers on stilts during the ceremony which celebrates the end of the school year in the village of Datcha in Togo.

© Margot Chevance / RFI

By: MFP Follow

In Togo, they are still nearly 500 to practice dancing on stilts.

A practice stemming from traditional voodoo rites which has become a real job for some.

Troupes have been formed across the country, they perform in Lomé, the capital, but also abroad, especially in Europe during festivals.

Perched on stilts five meters above the ground, the dancers perform veritable acrobatic figures.

RFI takes us to meet them, in the village of Datcha, where this tradition has its source.

Report by RFI correspondent in Togo

,

Margot Chevance.  

  • Togo

  • Dance

  • Africa

  • Africa culture

On the same subject

Perched professions

In Thailand, coconut-picking monkeys

Perched professions

The climb to the mountain pastures in Switzerland with Pascal Perrin, farmer

Perched professions

Elvira Iozzi, sgraffito restorer