Officially declared a religion in Benin in 1996, Voodoo and the Voodoo festival attracts thousands of devotees and tourists for a day filled with ritual dances and gin drinking. [Photo/Agencies]

Strictly speaking, voodoo is not a cult of ancestors.

It is "the palpable representation of what we cannot see", said Vincent Harisdo, a choreographer of French, Beninese and Togolese heritage who is working on a dance project on voodoo.

"Every human has his inner 'fa' (a voodoo divinity), his other self. And we are all looking for our other self. Call that voodoo here or psychology in Europe," he added.

Gail Hardison, a 57-year-old American, chose science over spirituality to get to know her origins. Several years ago she had a DNA test that revealed her ancestors came from northern Cameroon. This year she has brought her ancestral quest to Benin.