Chronicles of Dahomey
The Royal Chronicles
Tales from the Throne
'The Woman King' historical accuracy decoded
A detailed fact-check of 'The Woman King' (2022). what the film got right about the Dahomey Mino warriors, what it fictionalised for dramatic purposes and what the real history reveals about the kingdom and its women soldiers.
— Archives —
Wagasi - Fulani cheese of Benin
Wagasi is a soft white cheese made by Fulani herders in northern Benin. traditionally produced from fresh cow's milk and set with plant-based coagulants, it is sold in markets across the country. this article explores how it is made, its cultural significance, and where to find the best wagasi in...
2026-06-15
Vodun convents today - initiation in modern Benin
Vodun convents (couvents vodun) remain active across Benin, training initiates in the traditional religion. Initiation is a serious commitment lasting months or years. This guide explains how they operate today.
2026-06-15
Tohossou - sacred royal twins of Dahomey
Tohossou is a Vodun deity associated with royalty, lakes, streams, and children born with deformities or as twins. The cult of royal twins was an important institution in Dahomey, and Tohossou remains a living Vodun today.
2026-06-15
Sodabi: Benin's palm liquor
Sodabi is the traditional palm liquor of Benin. Distilled from fermented palm wine, it is central to Fon ceremonies, celebrations, and daily hospitality. This guide covers how sodabi is made, its role in Beninese culture, the different varieties, and how to drink it like a local. It includes prac...
2026-06-15
Sarah Forbes Bonetta — Queen Victoria's African goddaughter
Sarah Forbes Bonetta was a Yoruba princess captured by Dahomey's King Ghezo and destined for sacrifice. Rescued by a British naval officer, she became Queen Victoria's goddaughter, was raised in England, married a Nigerian merchant, and named her daughter after the Queen.
2026-06-15
Paul Hazoume's Doguicimi — the great Dahomey novel
Paul Hazoume's Doguicimi, published in 1938, is the great historical novel of the Dahomey kingdom. set in the 19th century under King Ghezo, it tells the story of a royal wife navigating love, duty and tragedy in the Fon court. this article explores the novel, its author, its themes and its endur...
2026-06-15
Nawi - the last surviving Dahomey Amazon
Nawi, the last surviving Dahomey Amazon, died in November 1979 at over 100 years old. In a 1978 interview, she recalled fighting the French in 1892 as a young Mino warrior. Her life bridges the kingdom of Dahomey and the modern Republic of Benin.
2026-06-15
Nansica - the most famous Mino warrior
Nansica was a real Mino warrior referenced in British explorer Skertchly's accounts of Dahomey. She is distinct from the fictional character Nanisca in The Woman King. Her story opens a window onto the real lives of Dahomey's women warriors.
2026-06-15
Loko - the sacred iroko tree
Loko is the iroko tree considered sacred in Fon Vodun tradition. It is both a physical tree and a Vodun deity — the spirit of the forest, herbal medicine, and spiritual knowledge.
2026-06-15
Lake Ahémé and Possotomé
Lake Ahémé is Benin's second-largest lake, a 78 km² freshwater lagoon connected to the Atlantic via the Aho Channel. A Ramsar wetland and Important Bird Area, it is surrounded by fishing villages including Possotomé, with a rich aquatic culture and remarkable birdlife.
2026-06-15
Annual Huetanu today - royal ancestor customs live
The Huetanu (Annual Customs) is the most important ceremony of the Dahomey royal tradition. Celebrated each year in Abomey, it maintains the link between the living king and the royal ancestors. This article explores how the ceremony is performed today, what happens during each phase, and why it ...
2026-06-15
Houndjro market: Abomey's living heart
Houndjro market is Abomey's main daily market. Unlike the tourist craft stalls near the palace, Houndjro is where locals shop for food, cloth, and household goods. This guide covers what to find, what to eat, and how to visit respectfully.
2026-06-15
Akassa, amiwo, akpan: Fon staples explained
Akassa, amiwo, and akpan are three essential Fon dishes that form the backbone of traditional Beninese cuisine. All made from corn, each transforms this simple ingredient in a different way — through fermentation, spicing, or steaming. This guide explains what they are, how they are prepared, and...
2026-06-15
Fon proverbs (lo) - wisdom of Dahomey
Fon proverbs, called 'lo' in the Fon language, are short sayings that encode the wisdom, values and philosophy of the Fon people. used in daily conversation, legal proceedings and ceremonial contexts, they remain a living part of Fon oral tradition. this article explores what they mean, how they ...
2026-06-15
Fon language: essential phrases for travelers
Fon (Fongbe) is the most widely spoken indigenous language in southern Benin. This practical guide covers essential Fon phrases for travelers visiting Abomey: greetings, polite expressions, numbers, and everyday phrases. Learning even a few words will transform your experience in the historic cap...
2026-06-15
Fon cuisine: what to eat in Abomey
Discover the traditional Fon cuisine of Abomey: pate (maize dough with sauce), ablo (steamed cakes), telibɔ (local gin), agouti (grasscutter) and grilled fish. where to eat and the culinary heritage of the Dahomey kingdom.
2026-06-15
FInaB - Festival international des Arts du Benin in Cotonou
FInaB (Festival international des Arts du Benin) is Benin's premier multi-arts festival, held in Cotonou. It showcases music, dance, theatre and visual arts from across Africa.
2026-06-15
Fete du Retour: August in Ouidah
The Fete du Retour is an August homecoming festival in Ouidah celebrating the return of the African diaspora through music, ceremonies and cultural events.
2026-06-15
Festival des Recades
Every August, Abomey hosts the Festival des Recades — a vibrant celebration of Dahomey's royal heritage. Named for the recades (ceremonial sceptres) that symbolize each king's reign, the festival features battle reenactments, traditional dances, royal ceremonies, and a parade of the royal courts....
2026-06-15
Cotonou essentials for travelers
Cotonou essentials for travelers: practical tips on getting around, where to stay, what to eat and how to navigate Benin's largest city. Everything you need before you arrive.
2026-06-15
Cobra Verde: Werner Herzog's 1987 film shot in Abomey
In 1987, Werner Herzog brought Klaus Kinski to Abomey to film Cobra Verde, the story of a Brazilian slave trader in Dahomey. The Royal Palaces became the set. Locals became extras. This article tells the story of the film, its connection to Abomey, and what remains of that extraordinary production.
2026-06-15
Bocio - Fon magical statuettes explained
Bocio are Fon magical statuettes from the Dahomey kingdom — empowering and protective figures charged with spiritual power. Unlike art objects, they are functional tools of Vodun practice, still created today.
2026-06-15
Beninese literature today
Beninese literature has a rich tradition spanning from Paul Hazoume's Doguicimi (1938) to contemporary writers working in French, Fon and other national languages. this article surveys the major authors, themes and movements that define Beninese writing today, from the pioneers to the newest voices.
2026-06-15
Memorial laws of slavery in Benin
Benin has enacted several laws to preserve the memory of the transatlantic slave trade. The 1998 memorial law established a legal framework for commemorating slavery, protecting sites like the Route des Esclaves, and recognising the victims. This article examines these laws and their impact.
2026-06-15
The Asen - royal ancestor altars of Dahomey
Asen are portable metal altars created to honor royal ancestors in Dahomey. These intricate brass and iron sculptures serve as spiritual intermediaries between the living and the dead kings, and are key objects in museum collections worldwide.
2026-06-15
Akodessewa voodoo market (Togo)
Akodessewa fetish market in Lome, Togo is the world's largest voodoo market. A unique marketplace where Vodun practitioners buy ritual materials. An essential stop for visitors interested in West African spirituality.
2026-06-15
Aguda community in Benin today
The Aguda community — descendants of Afro-Brazilians who returned to West Africa after the abolition of slavery — is one of Benin's most distinctive cultural groups. They maintain their unique identity through architecture, cuisine, festivals and a strong sense of belonging to both Benin and Brazil.
2026-06-15
Agongointo-Zoungoudo: Benin's underground village
Agongointo-Zoungoudo is an underground village near Bohicon, Benin. This unique site features subterranean houses carved into laterite, used as refuge during Dahomey's wars. A remarkable archaeological discovery and a must-visit for history enthusiasts.
2026-06-15
Houegbadja - the hunter who founded a kingdom
He arrived as a stranger on someone else's land. He stayed forty years. He never left. The story of Houegbadja - born Aro, son of Gangnihessou, first king of Dahomey - and how a place called 'in the belly of Dan' became an empire.
2026-06-13