Adjarra

Adjarra holds a market every fourth day that is known across Benin for its drums: dozens of types made in the town and sold there, from the small hand drums used in vodun ceremony to tall standing drums, alongside pottery, calabashes, palm wine and the ordinary business of a regional market. Drum makers work in the town and the market day is when the trade concentrates.

What's there

• The drum market - dozens of drum types made in the town and traded on market day.
• The drum makers - the workshops producing them through the week.
• The pottery - the ceramic work sold alongside.
• The four-day cycle - the market rhythm the region works on.

When to go

The market runs every fourth day, so timing matters; ask locally for the next one. November to February is the cool dry season. Mornings are busiest.

Things to know

On non-market days the town is quiet and the drums must be sought in workshops. Prices for visitors start high. Drums are bulky and awkward to carry onward.

Nearby

Porto-Novo is southwest, and the Songhai Centre is beyond it.

Key facts