The beggining of every first semester usually means a lot to almost every students but with the group of intrepid adventures, excursion and mostly social activities help make most students feel relaxed and welcomed back to school.
The Excursion to the Snake Island was organized by Dr. Ariori Sunday Olaniyi (the Director of the university), set to the temple of phythons OUIDAH BENIN a place were dozens of snakes are housed and worshiped within the walls of the Vodun. Temple of Pythons is a site of historical and modern symbolism and spiritual practice in Ouidah, Benin. The snakes are a major totem for followers of Vodun, a religion practiced by some group of people within West and Central African nations such as Ghana, Togo, and Benin.
Vodun became somewhat widespread in southern regions of the New World as a result of the African diaspora. It became the inspiration for other religions such as Louisiana Voodoo and Haitian Vodou. Snakes are important religious symbols and are highly respected. According to the theology, a rainbow serpent named Dan is an important deity that serves as a middleman between the living and the spirits.The serpents play a large role in the spirituality of Ouidah. According to local legend, the king of Ouidah took refuge in a forest from those seeking to kill him during a war in the 1700s.
When he was in hiding, pythons emerged from the forest and prevented him from being captured. To commemorate their role in his protection, he ordered the creation of three monuments.Ouidah’s Temple of Pythons is a concrete building topped with a clay roof. Inside, there’s a pit filled dozens of snakes either slinking around or tangled together. It is reported that approximately sixty pythons make the temple their home.The snakes aren’t fed, though they are let out about once a week to prey upon chickens and mice.
They occasionally make their way into local homes, where they’re treated as ordinary guests before being returned to the temple.The snakes are harmless and visitors are permitted to hold them. For an extra fee, students were even allowed to take photographs with the slithering star attractions. All in all the trip was an enjoyable success as students had fun, snap lovely photographs it was a great experience by the students Bellow are images from the excursion right at leaving the school premises down to OUIDAH BENIN
Below are photos and clips from the trip
