ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the actors, methodologies and tools engaged in the preservation of the traditional squares of Porto-Novo, Benin. These traditional squares – also called voodoo squares – are urban places that articulate religious, cultural, social and economic functions. A project for the conservation, restoration and renovation of these squares was initiated in 2014 by the municipality of Porto-Novo with the financial support of Cergy-Pontoise Agglomeration in France. This ongoing project, led by a local cultural institution, Ouadada, involves both local people and local artists. This chapter analyses the engagement of artists in urban planning policies, and shows how these practices can be seen as a tool that enables citizens to express their sense of place and emotional attachments to heritage. It explores how the involvement of artists in renovation projects takes into account – and eventually modifies – the perceptions and emotions of the residents in the specific context of traditional squares. The chapter also investigates how artistic creation creates words and images for voodoo heritage, which is often hidden, and also augments narratives not only for local people but also for visitors.
