Soul Journ 2026
March 24 to April 3, 2026 Benin Republic
A project offered by
Path to the Root - Intercultural Exchange
Context:
Black Americans and Africans of the Motherland are one people separated by a great deal of confusion and trauma spanning 400 years-The Great Catastrophe, the Ma’afa. Taken away by force from their families, they were not only tortured and used as animals in the construction of the strange land that they were thrown into but also their historical and cultural identity were stolen from them. All this added to the different discriminations that Black Americans face today.
Our African Ancestors were Indigenous African tribes and kingdoms. Our Indigenous African Ancestors experienced the catastrophe of becoming Stolen Bodies in Stolen Lands of the Indigenous People of the Continents known as the Americas.
Path to the Root Intercultural Exchange organizes a yearly Soul Journ to create a strong bridge between Africans of the Diaspora and Africans living in the Motherland. The bridgebuilding work aims at reconnecting Afro-descendants to the root, to the history, and to the culture of West African people, civilization, and societies. This program yearly hosted by Danxome, current known as Republic of Benin, will allow participants to learn the history of the Ma’afa from a different angle. The Soul Journ program will expose participants to West African spirituality and culture. It will also be great vacation time.
Who is the Soul Journ Program For?
The Path to the Root's Soul Journ is for healers within our communities, cultural custodians, community connectors, elders, educators, those interested in tracing their spiritual and/or biological roots to Mother Africa, persons interested in unmasking the lies about Black African and African American inferiority as taught in Eurocentric educational systems and within day to day practices in the U.S., those thirsty for knowledge about how the Great Catastrophe, the Ma’afa played out on the African Continent as our people were stolen, bought and sold into enslavement, those interested in embarking on a journey of soul and spirit healing.
Global Objectives of Soul Journ
The Soul Journ program will help us create a link between Africans of the Diaspora and Africans of Africa. The Soul Journ aims at unmasking Black people's history and culture which have been distorted by lies, misinformation, and lack of consciousness.
Specific Objectives:
Participating to the Soul Journ will allow the participants:
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To know the true why and how Africans were sold by Africans to Europeans and Americans.
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To visit the slave road which is the true itinerary and the torture that West African slaves went through since their compound till the merchant ship.
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To have clear-cut understanding of what Vodun spirituality and Vodun religions are.
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To know how to go through when willing to practise Vodun spirituality and take initiation to Fa/Ifa if they like.
Expected Results:
After taking part to the Path to the Root's Soul Journ program, participants will go with a new feeling about their history and their people. They will know that both the sellers and the sold ones were victims. They will go with a better understanding of Vodun spirituality and Vodun religions. Most important, each Souljourner will have undergone the rare opportunity and rite of passage of having visited the Motherland and connecting to the indescribable pride and joy of returning home in the embrace of our Pan-African kin.
Itininerary Soul Journ 2026
Day One : This very first day of Soul Journ 2026 will consist in meeting the people of Ouidah, their history, their culture. We will visit the Sacred forest of Kpasse, the python temple of Ouidah, and the the Vodun Hwendo leaders whose authority covers the practioners worldwide. Ouidah officially stands for the world head quarter of Vodun spirituality.
Day Two: On the second day of the Soul Journ, we will do the walk of souvenirs for the memoire of our enslaved forefathers and ancestors who have been deported to the Americas and overseas. This consists in visiting the historical museum of Ouidah, the ancient Portuguese Fort of Ouidah, and then walking along the slave road (from the slave market to the gate of no-return).
Day Three : On day three, we will visit Cotonou, the economic capital city of Benin Republic. On our journey, we will visit the museum of the royal scepter (Musee de la récade) at Cocotomey, the Woman King statue, and the artifact markets where participant can buy some souvenirs.
Day Four: Visit Ganvié, the venise of Africa. A village fully built on water where all activities including transportation, market, health service, etc. requires the use of canoe.
Day Five: Visit Porto-Novo, the political capital city of Benin. In Porto-Novo, we will visit the museum Honmè and the Songhai center everything consumed in the center are made in the produced, manufactured, or processed in the center.
Day Six: Visit Agualand, the biggest zoo in West Africa. Here, we are going to emjoy the beauty of African fauna's diversity.
Day Seven: Visit Abomey, the historical capital of Benin, ancient headquarter of Danxomè kingdom. Meet the Woman King, attend a party of women warriors' dance. Visit the museum and artefacts markets for participants to buy some souvenirs.
Day Eight: In the morning, we will discuss the different masquerades in Vodun Spirituality and the difference between initiation and rituals in Vodun.
In the evening, we will attend a Zangbeto show. Zangbeto literally means the guardian of the night. It was created by King Tè-Agbanlin, the founder of Hogbonu (Porto-Novo city of today). Zangbeto remains the most mysterious masquerade in Benin. The doubt about what/who is inside Zangbeto seems to be an eternal debate till you see the mystery with your own eyes. When the masquerade is open in the crowd, you never know in advance what will come out of it. It can be just a pigeon just like in the picture below
Day Nine: Relax in the morning and attend a Sakpata show in the afternoon.
Day Ten: Departure back to the States.
Participants:
Who can Participate in Soul Journ? Participants are any Afro-descendants or anyone willing to learn more about West African history and Vodun spirituality.
Cost of Soul Journ 2026. Participants will pay $2000 US to attend Soul Journ 2026. The cost includes lodging, transportation to all cultural events, airport transportation, cultural programming, museum, and cultural center entrance fees.
What is not included. Food and airfare are not included in the cost. Participants must arrange their own air transportation.
Arrival and Departure. All participants must arrive in Benin no later than Tuesday, March 24th. We will provide pickup at Cotonou Airport; participants are picked up as soon as they land at the airport. Participants who arrive after March 24th will have to make their own transportation arrangements to join us in Ouidah because we won't be able to pick up anyone after March 24th since activities start in the morning of March 25th.
Arrival Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
Departure Date: Friday, April 3, 2026. Participants interested in spiritual works will make arrangements and plans with Soul Journ organizers for lengthening their stay. They can come earlier as well.
Contact us for more details
