Masked performers fill Porto-Novo streets in Benin festival

No Comment Video. Masked performers fill Porto-Novo streets in Benin festival Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 27/07/2026 - 15:15 GMT+2 Thousands gather in Porto-Novo for Benin's Mask Festival, celebrating ancestral traditions with colourful costumes, dances and masks. 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. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT 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. Culture Africa Tradition Benin Top stories Now playing Next Masked performers fill Porto-Novo streets in Benin festival Now playing Next Waste pickers work at Indonesia's largest landfill Now playing Next Hundreds dressed in red recreate Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights dance Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | July 27th, 2026 – Midday Now playing Next US and Iran hold fire for third night as talks given 'space' Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | July 27th, 2026 – Morning Now playing Next 10 killed and 23 injured in flash floods in northwestern China Now playing Next Suspect in Berlin Pride attack killed in police operation Now playing Next What we know so far about the deadly attack at the Berlin Pride event Now playing Next Moulin Rouge dancers welcome Tour de France finale in Paris Now playing Next Mourners lay flowers and candles after deadly Berlin Pride attack Now playing Next Russian strikes across Ukraine kill at least eight over last 24 hours Now playing Next Conspiracy theories abound after Spain-Argentina World Cup final Now playing Next Hormuz crisis puts Europe's oil market under further strain following post-ceasefire relief Now playing Next Hundreds of thousands evacuated in France and Spain as wildfires rage on Now playing Next World Wealth Report: Two million more people became millionaires in 2025 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment Mourners lay flowers and candles after deadly Berlin Pride attack No Comment Moulin Rouge dancers welcome Tour de France finale in Paris No Comment Red sun, orange sky as Madrid battles worst wildfire in its history No Comment Ski resort in Lesotho offers rare winter escape in Africa USA Three people killed and four others injured in shooting at a Seattle festival Europe News Suspect in 'islamist terrorist attack' at Berlin Pride killed in police operation Syria UN chief calls for end of all sanctions on Syria during second day of visit Europe News Russian strikes across Ukraine kill at least eight over last 24 hours Europe News What we know so far about the attack at Berlin CSD, killing one and injuring 29 World News Hungary opens fairy tale themed 4.5-hectare corn maze for visitors to explore India India's 'Cockroach' movement ends protests after education minister resigns Europe News Viktor Orbán calls for new era of 'resistance politics' ADVERTISEMENT Syria UN chief urges global support for Syria during first Damascus visit since 2009 No Comment Monsoon floods kill at least 41 in India's Assam state Europe News Evacuations ordered in Bordeaux suburbs as wildfires continue to ravage southern Europe Lifestyle 'I do not want to replace models with AI': Fashion designer Steven Passaro plans industry revamp Europe News Zelenskyy warns of 'massive' Russian attack within 48 hours Earth News Wildfire smoke is crossing borders as climate change intensifies Europe's blazes Europe News ICC chief prosecutor removed from post over sexual misconduct allegations Europe News Wildfires trigger mass evacuations across France and Spain ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT