Voodoo Child: African Tribe ‘Raise’ Effigies Of Dead Children As If They Are Alive - Feeding, Bathing And Even Sending Them To School

Raising twins is never easy but in Benin, an poor nation on the west coast of Africa, hardship means many die during childhood. Now a stunning new set of photos shows how the families deal with their grief - by creating doll effigies of the lost infants and raising them as if they were still alive.

Taken by French photographer Eric Lafforgue, the photos document the life of the Fon tribe, who say the dolls possess the child’s spirit and have the power to bring the family good or bad luck, depending on how well they are treated.

Every day, the dolls are cradled, 'fed’, scrubbed clean and put to bed on immaculate linens  - all in an effort to keep them from being unhappy and cursing the family with evil magic.

Source: Daily Mirror