The CNCV (National Community of the Worship Vodoun) invites all Béninois to reconvert [from Western religions] back to their ancestral religion of the Vodoun. The president of (CNCV), Mr. Sossa Guêdêhounguê, offered this plea in Porto-Novo (30km of Cotonou), Wednesday, in a short speech at the time of an official celebration marking the 7th anniversary of the "Festival of the traditional religions and ancestral worships of Benin ." He indicated that the vodoun is not what many have been led to believe- " a force of the evil ". " It is rather the native and first religion of every Béninois, and a symbol of their identity. "The vodoun is also the major mediator between the spirits of our ancestors and us. Thus I invite all Béninois to reconvert back to the religion of their forefathers & mothers, " he continued. The Béninois Minister of Culture and Communication, Mr. Gaston Zossou, representing the Béninois government, stated that "God, who is love, cannot make some [people] with a religion of light and other [people's religions], a force of evil ". He then invited the followers of all the religious communities of Benin " to join him in peace, love and uprightness " for the development of their country. Decorations, prayers, libation and initiations marked the 7th anniversary of this important religious festival (recognized by the government since August 1997). Delegations from Haiti, Brazil, Martinique, Latin America, Senegal and the president of the national Assembly of Burkina Faso, took part in the Festivals and traditional worship of the Benin. http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200601100280.html English translation by: Mama Zogbé Durchbach