The 1990s Benin National Conference and Vodun’s public status

Record summary

Benin’s democratic transition after the 1990 National Conference altered the public relationship between the state and religious traditions, including Vodun institutions and ritual specialists. This is a useful lead for comparing divination as living religious practice with its later presentation as national heritage. The political process is documented, but interpretations of how much it “rehabilitated” Vodun differ among historians, practitioners, and government narratives. Researchers should identify constitutional provisions, official speeches, and contemporary accounts rather than infer a single policy shift.