Kétou

Ketou doesn't offer much in terms of entertainment. Like in most rural communities, the biggest attraction in Ketou is its people. The town is not used to seeing foreign travellers so you can expect a cheerful, albeit guarded, welcome. It is important to be open and friendly if you wish to engage with the people you meet. As with everywhere else in Benin, it is strongly advised that you not hand out gifts or money to people you have just met, as this only serves to cause hassle for future visitors. Some suggestions on things to do:

Attend a cultural event

Unfortunately, these don't follow any particular calendar, so it is very much hit or miss. if you are lucky and are willing to spend the night, you could attend a guelede mask dance, which is a unesco world heritage dance. if you are a woman, or even a man, please take extreme caution when travelling to ketou during the month of august. during this time, ketou celebrates its most powerful orisha, the oro divinity. these celebrations are extremely sacred and completely forbidden to women. it is strongly advised that you avoid ketou at this time, especially if you do not know anyone there. please ask around if you intend on travelling to ketou around that time this also applies to other towns in the region, which also celebrate the oro.

Assena' market

Visit the main 'Assena' market. This is the main market in the region and attracts people from far and away. It is quite vibrant and is a good way of getting a taste of local life.

Guelede dance

Visit one of the surrounding villages. If you are interested in seeing a village split between two countries, Ilara, 17 km east of Ketou, is certainly a place to visit. Right on the border with Nigeria, it can be interesting to walk around and try to figure out which country you are in. Another option, only 6 km from Ketou, is the small village of Ofia. This village is said to be the home of the Guelede dance and a visit to the king will leave you with some fascinating stories about local history.