Adedo bell of the Fon from Benin (without clappers)

Dimensions: 24 x 9.5 x 8 cm.

Adedo bells are ceremonial bells used in Vodun ceremonies by the Fon people of southern Benin.

A Vodun priest or priestess rings the Adedo bell to contact the spirit world. The bells are said to attract or repel energies.

Within Vodun, contact with the spirit world is central. During contact with the spirit world, the priest or priestess seeks advice from the ancestral spirits. In addition to help in solving problems, protection and blessing can also be requested.

The Adedo bells have most likely been made since the seventeenth century, when Benin was still the Kingdom of Dahomey.

Please note: this one has no clappers.