Heikki Kastemaa. Ritual, Ocean and Fetish in Benin/Dahomey coastal history
The Atlantic Ocean has played a crucial role in the lives of coastal communities in Benin and other West African regions since precolonial times. It has served as a vital source of livelihood, transportation, and cultural significance. Coastal communities relied on fishing, trade, and maritime activities for sustenance and economic exchange. The ocean also held spiritual and religious significance, with various rituals and beliefs associated with its power and mystique. With the arrival of the first Europeans on the West African coast, interactions between the local communities and the newcomers led to the development of new rituals and cults related to the sea. Europeans encountered objects and ceremonies associated with spiritual beliefs and practices, which they labeled as 'fetishes.' Later, the term 'fetish' evolved within European philosophy, influenced by thinkers such as Immanuel Kant, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Karl Marx, and Sigmund Freud. While the term 'fetish' has been shaped by European philosophies and discourses, it is important not to overlook or reduce its original meaning and cultural significance within the context of West African coastal traditions to solely European interpretations.