Eating Dogs | National Geographic

in northern benin humans revered dogs

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

for their loyalty and bravery but here

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

every four years the baser baby people

every 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 a bio quantum mother the

animals a bio quantum mother the

animals a bio quantum 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

during the circumcision I’m Adam

during the circumcision I’m Adam II I you know you want a go of whether

II I you know you want a go of whether

II I you know you want a go of 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 you follow the tradition what

reckoning you follow the tradition what

reckoning you 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 killed

killed

killed beneath the spreading baobab tree stands

beneath the spreading baobab tree stands

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

the symbol of ancestral spirit the

the symbol of ancestral spirit the fetish before villagers can eat their

fetish before villagers can eat their

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

share of dog they must feed the spirit

share of dog they must feed the spirit with sacrifices ATM’s father will begin

with sacrifices ATM’s father will begin

with sacrifices ATM’s father will begin the ceremony though he appears Oh spirit

the ceremony though he appears Oh spirit

the ceremony though he appears Oh spirit with millionnaire and chicken blood

with millionnaire and chicken blood

with millionnaire 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 outside to give the dog but it is my

outside to give the dog but it is my

outside 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 tail boys awaiting circumcision

of a tail boys awaiting circumcision

of a tail 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 write the

offers roasted meat when we write the

offers roasted meat when we write the recipe boils everyone in the village

recipe boils everyone in the village

recipe boils everyone in the village will want a taste of the sacrificial

will want a taste of the sacrificial

will want a taste of the sacrificial meal when you eat the dog did you get

meal when you eat the dog did you get

meal when you eat the dog did you get good health so everyone wants to take a

good health so everyone wants to take a

good health so everyone wants to take a little bit go go once the elders have

little bit go go once the elders have

little bit go go once the elders have eaten younger villagers take their turn

eaten younger villagers take their turn

eaten younger villagers take their turn they hope the dogs meat will give them

they hope the dogs meat will give them

they hope the dogs meat will give them the courage to endure circumcision and

the courage to endure circumcision and

the courage to endure circumcision and now that the initiation rite has begun

now that the initiation rite has begun

now that the initiation rite has begun the villages dogs can rest easy at least

the villages dogs can rest easy at least

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

for another four years when the next

for another four years when the next ritual occurs