BENIN - Abomey
Abomey is the former capital of the ancient Kingdom of Dahomey (c. 1600–1904), which would later become a French colony, then the Republic of Dahomey (1960–1975), and is now the modern-day Republic of Benin. From 1625 to 1900 twelve kings succeeded one another at the head of the powerful Kingdom of Abomey. The city houses the Royal Palaces of Abomey, a collection of small earthen structures that were inhabited by the Kings of Dahomey from 1600 to 1900, and which were designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. The town was surrounded by a mud wall with a circumference estimated at six miles, pierced by six gates, and protected by a ditch five feet deep, filled with a dense growth of prickly acacia and according our guide, with a lot of snakes and crocodiles.
BEST TIME to VISIT ABOMEY
BEST TIME to TRAVEL to BENIN
from November to January
old city - market
catholic church
Gasoline is sold in bottles and are competing with official gas stations
Entrance of one of the former Prince's Palace
Voodoo building in the old city
Royal Palaces
Royal Palace. Each King built its own in the enclosure of the Palace.
Monument dedicated to Glele kin which was the tenth King of Dahomey, ruling from 1858 until his death in 1889. The lion is its symbol
one of the King's grave is inside this building
Royal Palace
Royal Palaces
the wall of the Royal enclosure
Royal Palace
Royal Palace
Royal Palace
In November 1892, Béhanzin, the last independent reigning king of Dahomey, being defeated by French colonial forces, set fire to Abomey and fled northward. He was the last ruling king. A royal family still exists in Abomey but they don't rule the country, but only traditional celebrations.
sign for hairdresser
getting gasoline , but not at the gas station
Voodoo paintings in a shop
looking for a hairdresser ?
motorbike for 3
mother and baby on a motorbike
motorbike is very popular
church
cattle transport : two cows are travelling linked at the top of this car
riding a large bicycle
Royal Palaces - one of the Palace. All of them are in the same Royal Enclosure.
old city - shops
There is many quite new buildings in Abomey related to Royal family, their Voodoo priests and shrines. This one is for the former King Glele with its Lion symbol.
one of the building in Abomey related to Royal family, their Voodoo priests and shrines.
On this very long wall : all the Kings with their symbols
one of the building in Abomey related to Royal family.
one of the building in Abomey related to Royal family, their Voodoo priests and shrines.
one of the building in Abomey related to Royal family, their Voodoo priests and shrines.
one of the building in Abomey related to Royal family, their Voodoo priests and shrines.
one of the building in Abomey related to Royal family, their Voodoo priests and shrines.
Voodoo - Royals & Initiates celebration- This picture has a poor quality (distance, no flash allowed, moving dancers and a basic camera)
Voodoo - Royals & Initiates celebration- This picture has a poor quality (distance, no flash allowed, moving dancers and a basic camera)
catholic church
young boy protecting himself from sun
woman at the market
Voodoo - Royals & Initiates celebration- This picture has a poor quality (distance, no flash allowed, moving dancers and a basic camera)
Voodoo - Royals & Initiates celebration- This picture has a poor quality (distance, no flash allowed, moving dancers and a basic camera)
Voodoo - Royals & Initiates celebration- This picture has a poor quality (distance, no flash allowed, moving dancers and a basic camera)
Voodoo - Royals & Initiates celebration- This picture has a poor quality (distance, no flash allowed, moving dancers and a basic camera)
Voodoo - Royals & Initiates celebration- This picture has a poor quality (distance, no flash allowed, moving dancers and a basic camera)