Vidomegon. Vivere l'infanzia nel mercato di Dantokpa

Thousands of children and girls live and work inside Dantokpa, the biggest market in West Africa and the commercial centre of Cotonou, the Benin capital.  A lot of them are Vidomegon, in fon language “children addressed to someone”. Traditionally, Vidomegon were daughters entrusted by families from rural zones to relatives in urban areas, in order to guarantee them a better education and way of life. In the last 30 years, with the impoverishment of the urban population, this ancient tradition has radically mutated. Today the Vidomegon are exploited by the host families, working without any compensation in terms of money or education. They are often mistreated and victims of violence. The reportage goes through this labyrinth, a city within a City, in order to reveal the daily lives of children and girls, mainly Vidomegon, who live without universally recognized rights (education, games, free time) and, moreover, without love.