Eating Dog | National Geographic

in northern benin humans revere dogs for

in northern benin humans revere dogs for their loyalty and bravery but here dogs

their loyalty and bravery but here dogs

their loyalty and bravery but here dogs also figure in an unusual ritual every

also figure in an unusual ritual every

also figure in an unusual ritual every four years the baser baby people

four years the baser baby people

four years the baser baby people initiate boys into manhood the process a

initiate boys into manhood the process a

initiate boys into manhood the process a series of ceremonies including

series of ceremonies including

series of ceremonies including circumcision hinges on a sacrifice to

circumcision hinges on a sacrifice to

circumcision hinges on a sacrifice to honor their ancestors and bolster their

honor their ancestors and bolster their

honor their ancestors and bolster their sons courage the base re be kill and eat

sons courage the base re be kill and eat

sons courage the base re be kill and eat a dog this year endo Tian will lead the

a dog this year endo Tian will lead the

a dog this year endo Tian will lead the ritual the base re beloved dogs

ritual the base re beloved dogs

ritual the base re beloved dogs especially dogs with brave hearts and

especially dogs with brave hearts and

especially dogs with brave hearts and loyal spirits the very qualities people

loyal spirits the very qualities people

loyal spirits the very qualities people here hope to absorb when they eat the

here hope to absorb when they eat the

here hope to absorb when they eat the animals about welcome to mother the

animals about welcome to mother the

animals about welcome to mother the soothsayer asks you to kill a dog so

soothsayer asks you to kill a dog so

soothsayer asks you to kill a dog so that the boy won’t run away in fear

that the boy won’t run away in fear

that the boy won’t run away in fear during the circumcision I’m Adam yeah

during the circumcision I’m Adam yeah

during the circumcision I’m Adam yeah bye you know you want a go and whether

bye you know you want a go and whether

bye you know you want a go and whether he we don’t give names to the other

he we don’t give names to the other

he we don’t give names to the other animals are you her mother but we give a

animals are you her mother but we give a

animals are you her mother but we give a name to the dog mother what a murder

name to the dog mother what a murder

name to the dog mother what a murder because he is our companion this dog has

because he is our companion this dog has

because he is our companion this dog has a name patience for four years patience

a name patience for four years patience

a name patience for four years patience has had a good life with his owner Seiko

has had a good life with his owner Seiko

has had a good life with his owner Seiko but Seiko has always waited the day of

but Seiko has always waited the day of

but Seiko has always waited the day of reckoning I follow the tradition what

reckoning I follow the tradition what

reckoning I follow the tradition what our ancestors did is what I do when we

our ancestors did is what I do when we

our ancestors did is what I do when we bought patience we knew that we were

bought patience we knew that we were

bought patience we knew that we were the fetish beneath the spreading baobab

the fetish beneath the spreading baobab

the fetish beneath the spreading baobab tree stands the symbol of ancestral

tree stands the symbol of ancestral

tree stands the symbol of ancestral spirit the fetish before villagers can

spirit the fetish before villagers can

spirit the fetish before villagers can eat their share of dog they must be the

eat their share of dog they must be the

eat their share of dog they must be the spirit with sacrifices ATM’s father will

spirit with sacrifices ATM’s father will

spirit with sacrifices ATM’s father will begin the ceremony well he appears over

begin the ceremony well he appears over

begin the ceremony well he appears over it with Miller narrow and chicken blood

it with Miller narrow and chicken blood

it with Miller narrow and chicken blood the bird died clearly but patients must

the bird died clearly but patients must

the bird died clearly but patients must live up to his name look up where the

live up to his name look up where the

live up to his name look up where the ritual requires he be killed with a club

ritual requires he be killed with a club

ritual requires he be killed with a club in some sacrifices suffering is what

in some sacrifices suffering is what

in some sacrifices suffering is what makes it holy many in the village know

makes it holy many in the village know

makes it holy many in the village know and like patience they’ll miss him

and like patience they’ll miss him

and like patience they’ll miss him I’m sad to give the dog but it is my

I’m sad to give the dog but it is my

I’m sad to give the dog but it is my sister’s who started the tradition

Etienne offers the dog’s blood to the

Etienne offers the dog’s blood to the spirits out of respect he leaves a piece

spirits out of respect he leaves a piece

spirits out of respect he leaves a piece of a tale boys awaiting circumcision

of a tale boys awaiting circumcision

of a tale boys awaiting circumcision dance readying themselves to eat the

dance readying themselves to eat the

dance readying themselves to eat the magic meat they believe will awaken the

magic meat they believe will awaken the

magic meat they believe will awaken the spirits of their ancestors before an

spirits of their ancestors before an

spirits of their ancestors before an audience of village elders Etienne

audience of village elders Etienne

audience of village elders Etienne follows the preparation ritual well I

follows the preparation ritual well I

follows the preparation ritual well I don’t know animal to the spirit Etienne

don’t know animal to the spirit Etienne

don’t know animal to the spirit Etienne offers roasted meat when we run the

offers roasted meat when we run the

offers roasted meat when we run the restaurant oils

young everyone in the village will want

young everyone in the village will want a taste of the sacrificial meal when you

a taste of the sacrificial meal when you

a taste of the sacrificial meal when you eat the dog you get good health so

eat the dog you get good health so

eat the dog you get good health so everyone wants to take a little bit go

everyone wants to take a little bit go

everyone wants to take a little bit go go

go

go once the elders have eaten younger

once the elders have eaten younger

once the elders have eaten younger villagers take their turn they hope the

villagers take their turn they hope the

villagers take their turn they hope the dogs meat will give them the courage to

dogs meat will give them the courage to

dogs meat will give them the courage to endure circumcision and now that the

endure circumcision and now that the

endure circumcision and now that the initiation rite has begun the villages

initiation rite has begun the villages

initiation rite has begun the villages dogs can rest easy at least for another

dogs can rest easy at least for another

dogs can rest easy at least for another four years when the next ritual occurs