Masked performers fill Porto-Novo streets in Benin festival

Thousands of people gathered in Porto-Novo for the third annual Benin Mask Festival, where performers in elaborate wooden masks and colourful costumes danced through the streets to the beat of drums.

Spectators lined the route as traditional performances brought ancestral customs and Beninese culture to life.

The festival celebrates mask traditions from communities including the Yoruba, Somba and Betammaribe. Figures such as the Egungun and Zangbeto are believed to represent ancestral spirits and play an important role in local cultural and spiritual life.

Visitors said the event offers a chance to discover Benin beyond common stereotypes and gain a deeper understanding of its traditions.