Kings of the Water

Cyprien Tokoudagba is an important person in the city of Abomey in the West African republic of Benin. He paints the religious houses of the vodoun -- sacred temples dedicated to the worship of revered ancestors. In Kings of the Water, Cyprien paints three brilliantly colored vodun figures and takes part in the ceremony to open a new temple. The film follows Cyprien to two local ceremonies, one in which the dead are believed to come back to instruct the living through wild dancing and another in which women warriors dance for the king. The film is an incredible journey through West African religion and art.