Akodessewa Fetish Market — Local services in Lomé

Visiting the Akodessewa Fetish Market was nothing short of an unforgettable experience. This place is often described as the world’s largest voodoo market, and I can confidently say that 90% of what you’ll find online about it is true, both fascinating and intense.

The entrance fee is 3,000 CFA per person. If you’d like to film or take photos with your phone or camera, expect to pay an additional 2,000 CFA. However, if you’re a YouTuber or professional content creator, be prepared for higher fees (sometimes up to 15,000 CFA). Your bargaining skills, and your ability to negotiate in French will definitely come in handy here.

The people are welcoming, and the guided tour is clear, structured, and immersive. You’ll see everything from traditional charms to spiritual remedies, and if you’re open-minded, it’s an eye-opening cultural journey. The highlight for many visitors is meeting a voodoo priest, which adds an authentic touch to the entire experience.

As someone named Asad, an Arabic name meaning “Lion”. I must admit I wasn’t too thrilled to see lion heads among the items on display. It was a strange mix of shock and curiosity. But that’s exactly what makes this place so powerful: it challenges your perspective while teaching you about traditions that remain deeply rooted in local spirituality.

If you’re in Lomé, Akodessewa Fetish Market is a must-visit. It’s not just a market; it’s a window into a unique spiritual world. Go with an open mind, a respectful heart, and perhaps a strong stomach, and it will reward you with stories and insights you won’t find...

This is an interesting place worth a visit at least once for the sake of learning the history and story behind the market and practices linked to Vodun.

Expect to pay a fee at the entrance for each person and extra for permission to take photo or video (per person) so be prepared if you have a big group as it can add up pretty quickly.

You get a guide that either speaks French and possibly other languages like English.

The tour is a bit lengthy if you go all the way to the end (about 45 min) as the guide takes you to every stand and give a bit of a history of everything you see.

You can also ask all questions you have, and they are quite knowledgeable.

It's a great experience although you can tell if you look closely that it's mainly a tourist trap as they can get a bit pushy about selling stuffs (they never force you though).

I did enjoy learning the history as there were many new facts i...

Visiting this market was an interesting experience – definitely something exotic, but at the same time it felt surprisingly down-to-earth. The people there were friendly and completely normal in their behavior. Unlike in many other markets, the vendors weren’t aggressive; a simple “no, thank you” was enough. Since I had paid an entrance fee, it also felt fair just to wander around and look or take pictures without any pressure to buy.

What I really appreciated was being encouraged to touch and explore some of the items instead of just looking from a distance. The visit also included a guide, who explained how the animals are used in traditional medicine and pointed out that they had all died a natural death – otherwise, they wouldn’t be suitable for the rituals.

Overall, it was both exotic and educational, and I left with a much better understanding of a tradition that was...