Ohonmoimen

When talking about the popular festivals in Benin, you should not miss Ohonmoimen. In the native language, Ohonmoimen means "all is fine with me." The Ohonmoimen celebration, as the name suggests, is held yearly between January and March by the Iuleha clan in Owan to mark the conclusion of one prosperous year and the beginning of another. It provides a chance to show thankfulness to God, through ancestor gods and harvest gods, for all the wonderful things of the past. Prayers are also said for the following year's protection and a bountiful crop.

The ceremonies linked with the Ohonmoimen celebration are performed in three holy woodlands in the tribe. Every five years, citizens of a specific age group are started to observe the woodlands during the festival. When it is announced that a date has been set for the holy woodlands, palm nuts are harvested, and palm oil is prepared from these nuts for the ceremonial lamps. The woodland has also been removed and is being maintained clean.

Time: Between January and March.