Royal Palaces of Abomey Benin

Royal Palaces of Abomey - Benin

Short Report

From 1625 to 1900, 12 kings succeeded each other at the head of the mighty Kingdom Abomey. With the exception of King Aqaba, which there are private housing, they all had their palaces built in the same flask-wall area, in accordance with previous palaces with respect to the use of the space and materials. The royal palaces of Abomey are a unique reminder of this lost kingdom.

Wonderful Universal Importance

The royal palaces of Abomey are the serious material witnesses of the Kingdom Dahomey developed from the middle of the 17th century in accordance with the principle formulated by the founder, Wegbaja, 'that the kingdom is always be even greater'. Under the twelve kings who succeeded from 1625 to 1900, the kingdom established as one of the most powerful of the west coast of Africa. The site of the royal palaces of Abomey covers an area of 47 ha and consists of a set of ten palaces, of which a number next to each other and others that are projected, according to the law of succession to the throne. These palaces comply with the principles of culture Aja-Fon , and forms not only the decision-making center of the kingdom, but also the center for the development of craft techniques and storage for the treasures of the kingdom. 

The site consists of two parts, the palace of King Aqaba is separate from that of his father Wegbaja by one of the main roads of the city and a number of residential areas. These two areas are enclosed by walls partially preserved corn cobs. The palaces are organizational constants because each is surrounded by walls and built around three courtyards (outer and inner, private).  The use of traditional materials and polychrome bas-reliefs are important architectural features. Today, the palaces are no longer occupied, but that of King Ghézo and King Glélé house the Historical Museum of Abomey, illustrating the history of the kingdom and its symbolism through a desire for independence, resistance and fight against the colonial occupation.

Wide Report

The royal palaces of Abomey exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition that vulnerable under the ravages. Still regularly used for traditional rituals and for royal ceremonies, the palace buildings are important, not only because in the past that they represent, but also for the tradition that they make a contribution to. For a society without the written documents, the bas-reliefs (used as decorative features) serve as a unique record of the past they are the most important events in the development of the Fon people and their rich, in honor of the military victories and the ability of each king and documenting the Fon people's myths, Customs and rituals.

The West African Kingdom Abomey (formerly Dahomey), set up in 1625 by the Fon people, has become a powerful military and commercial empire. Under the twelve kings who succeeded each other from 1695 to 1900, the kingdom was one of the most powerful on the west coast of Africa. Until the late 19th century was the main source of wealth from the sale of prisoners of war as slaves to European traffickers for transport across the Atlantic to the New World.

Each of the twelve kings built a royal palace in the royal grounds in Abomey, the capital, all in the same flask-walled area, in accordance with previous palaces with respect to the use of the space and materials. They are all characterized by a number of structural constants: within the walled enceinte was partly retained, each palace has its own walls and is also built around three courtyards. The outer courtyard is the site of ritual ceremonies and military parade, the courtyard and the courtyard offer access to the residence of the king and queens of two different zones, the palaces and that of the north-northwest, the zone of the Aqaba Palace. Over the centuries, the palace complex was filled with houses, facilities, wall paintings, sculptures and a series of complex bas-reliefs. Grounding bas-reliefs were used as an essential decorative function in the facades of most palaces. The walls show that the soldiers of the kingdom Abomey was based, in part on companies of female warriors who adapted to their male counterparts in fierceness and courage. They also portray mythical animals that symbolized the characteristics of the kings and their power as rulers. 

In order to defy the French occupation in 1892, Abomey King Behanzin ordered that the city (including the palaces) are burned. The Salle des Bijoux de (Hall of Jewelry), the palace of the former ruler, was one of the few structures to survive the fire, making the bas-reliefs of particular importance as a historical record of the Fon's rich culture.

Source:whc/unesco