Image: Anthony Pappone

A woman dances as part of a Voodoo ceremony in a village in Togo

Women play an important role in Voodoo rituals. Traditionally, a woman known as the “queen mother” leads ceremonies like baptisms, weddings and funerals. Seen as one of the most vital people in the community, the queen mother is usually the eldest daughter of a village’s leading family collective and is also in charge of looking after the marketplace. Other women may be chosen by the oracles to become high priestesses.

Image: Anthony Pappone

A priest at the Temple of Pythons handles sacred snakes

One of the locations Anthony Pappone explored was a Voodoo temple in Ouidah, Benin dedicated to pythons – definitely not a place for anyone with ophidiophobia (an intense fear of snakes). At the temple, sacred pythons are allowed to slither in and out, entering neighboring lounges like important visitors. They even cross over to the Catholic church on the other side of the road! Fifty royal pythons live at the temple, and visitors can stroke or handle the snakes – which we’re assured aren’t dangerous. The site is popular with people interested in learning something about a religion that seems so mysterious to outsiders.