Socialization and identity construction through vidomɛgɔnat: anthropological analysis of a changing beninese tradition

The vidomɛgɔnat, a Beninese customary practice in which a child is entrusted to another family, ‘brought up’ for socialisation and the transmission of values, is undergoing profound upheavals that are affecting its foundations of solidarity, mutual aid and child protection. This anthropological study shows that the vidomɛgɔnat in Benin has been transformed into a system of economic exploitation of children, now known as the ‘vidomègon phenomenon’, where children in care are often subjected to forced labour, ill-treatment and deprivation of their fundamental rights. It examines the causes of this change, highlighting poverty, urbanisation, the weakening of traditional family structures and changes in social norms, particularly the perception of the child, as the main factors. The study proposes to transform vidomɛgɔnat into a positive vector of development by strengthening legislation, supporting vulnerable families and promoting economic alternatives, while using Bronfenbrenner's ecological approach to protect children's rights and preserve the positive aspects of this tradition.