Behanzin, King of Abomey

An exhibition marking one hundred years since the death of King Behanzin is being held at the Zinsou Foundation of Cotonou from 16 December 2006 to 16 March 2007.

In response to a request by the Republic of Benin, the Musée du quai Branly has accepted to loan thirty key, representative artefacts from its collections, including the famous throne of the King.

Works illustrating the kingship of Abomey through the history of its foundation will be on display in particular, a historiated hanging depicting figurative symbols of kings, gifts offered to King Behanzin and personal belongings, bracelets, recades (insignia of royal authority), carved doors in high relief, probably produced for the tomb of King Glélé, a portable altar asen topped by a panther, the mythical ancestor of the royal family of Abomey, weaponry, a copy of the calendar belonging to the soothsayer of the Kings Glélé, Béhanzin and Ago-li-Agbo, divination objects and artefacts associated with Amazons (sabre, small talismans)…

A bilingual French/English catalogue has been coproduced by the museum.

This contains a preface written by the President of the French Republic, Mr Jacques Chirac, the President of the Republic of Benin, Dr Thomas Yayi Boni, Mrs Marie-Cécile Zinsou, Chair of the Zinsou Foundation, and Jean-Pierre Mohen, Heritage and Collections Director at the Musée du quai Branly. Jean-Louis Vullierme, Joseph Adrien Djivo and the Beninese philosopher Paulin Hountondji were responsible for the scientific texts. Detailed notes written by the Head of the Africa Heritage Department, Hélène Joubert, and Gaëlle Beaujean-Baltzer, in charge of the Africa collections at the Musée du quai Branly, give information alongside the thirty works of art from the museum.

Old photographs, fifteen paintings by the contemporary artist Cyprien Tokoudagba and a collection of faxes of newpapers from the time are also reproduced in the catalogue.

The catalogue reveals the historic impact of this event by bringing together different visions of King Behanzin's reign and the context of the time.

The Musée du quai Branly is making its own contribution to this event by assembling an iconographic collection based on King Behanzin, his reign and exile. Eighteen large canvasses measuring 1.70m with photographs, engravings and sketches will be on display at the Musée Historique d’Abomey around Behanzin's Palace during the same period.