Paris Lariani’s work confronting harm tied to Benin fetish markets is rooted in firsthand experience rather than theory. Her connection to Benin developed through study, travel, and cultural immersion, but what she encountered there reshaped the focus of her work. In parts of Benin, fetish markets operate openly and are often framed as cultural or spiritual centers. What Paris observed was not tradition itself, but how fear, desperation, and belief were commercialized.
During her time working in Benin, Paris interviewed a young mother named Ama from a village outside Ouidah. Paris met Ama after helping her recover from spiritual work that had been done against her by someone close to her, using items sourced from a fetish market. When Paris first encountered her, Ama was emotionally depleted, fearful, and physically unwell. She described persistent anxiety, insomnia, and a constant sense that something bad was about to happen.
Ama explained that once the belief took hold that spiritual harm had been done to her, every challenge in her life felt connected to it. Normal stress became confirmation that she was unsafe. Fear dictated her decisions, her relationships, and her ability to care for herself and her child. Paris worked carefully to help Ama release the influence without reinforcing fear, focusing on grounding, emotional safety, and restoring balance. Over time, Ama’s condition improved. Her anxiety eased, her sleep returned, and she felt present again.
After her recovery began, Paris interviewed Ama to understand the broader impact of fear based spiritual practices. Ama spoke about how fear isolated her and stripped her sense of control. According to Paris, this loss of autonomy is one of the most damaging effects of fetish market practices. When fear is internalized, it does not stop with one person. It quietly spreads through households, shaping how children experience safety, stress, and emotional regulation.
For Paris, stories like Ama’s highlight the generational risk of fear based exploitation. Her work focuses on breaking that cycle, restoring stability, and ensuring fear is not passed down as inheritance.
