600 kilometres north-west of Cotonou, on the border with Togo, lies the town of Bokumbe, widely known for its market, which is regarded as the best in the country. Only here you can buy rare, authentic traditional folk sculptures and smoking pipes made of precious wood, the pride of local craftsmen. Every four years, Bokumba hosts the unique Whipping Festival, during which naked young men with whips form large crowds and engage in pitched battles with neighbouring villagers. It's a ritualistic ceremony that doesn't do much harm to the participants, but it's not for the faint-hearted.
