OuidahLoading
Collection
History
Pillar
Francisco Félix de Souza | The Chacha of Ouidah
Born in Bahia, died in Ouidah. In between: a coup, a title, 10,000–15,000 captives per year. His descendants still live here. The city still bears his name.
2026-03-29
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The Agojie | Dahomey's Female Warriors and the Woman King
Thousands of female warriors, feared across West Africa. The Agojié of Dahomey were history's only documented standing army of women — and soldiers of a slave-trading state.
2026-03-29
Pillar
The Aguda Community | Afro-Brazilians Who Returned to Ouidah
After generations in Brazil, thousands of freed enslaved people and their descendants returned to West Africa. In Ouidah, they founded the Aguda community — and remade the city in their image.
2026-03-29
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The Zomai Enclosure | Ouidah: The Prison of Darkness
On the Slave Route, the Zomai enclosure was where captives were held before embarkation. A ritual of identity erasure whose living memory Ouidah still carries today.
2026-03-29
Remanence
Ouidah and the Memory of Slavery: A Journey Through the Slave Route in Benin
Discover how the Slave Route in Ouidah, Benin, shapes the collective and individual memories of slavery.
2025-01-01
Remanence
Return of Cultural Treasures: Ouidah, Benin, and the Colonized Heritage
Discover the fascinating history of looted African heritage and the challenges of its restitution.
2025-01-01
Remanence
The Return of Kings to Ouidah: Influence and Power in Benin
Discover how the precolonial kings of Ouidah influence modern Benin politics.
2025-01-01
Remanence
Ouidah: Photography as a Witness to the Memories of Slavery in Benin
Discover how photography unveils the richness of the memories of the Atlantic slave trade in Ouidah, Benin.
2025-01-01
Remanence
Ouidah and the Memories of Slavery: An Encounter with Fabienne Kanor
Discover the captivating interview with Fabienne Kanor in Ouidah during the symposium on the memories of slavery.
2025-01-01
Remanence
Ouidah: Journey to the Heart of Memory and Vodun Sites in Benin
Discover how Ouidah blends history and spirituality through its memory and vodun sites, an unforgettable journey in Benin.
2025-01-01
Remanence
Ouidah and Benin: An Exploration of Possession Cults and the African Imagination
Discover how possession cults in Ouidah and Brazil redefine the African imagination and challenge religious oppositions.
2025-01-01
Remanence
Ouidah and Sacred Archaeology: Revelations of Ceramics through Scanning
Discover how scanning unveils the secrets of sacred ceramics from Ouidah and other West African sites.
2025-01-01
Remanence
Henri Chomette: The Visionary Architect of the Post-War Boom in Africa
Discover the architectural legacy of Henri Chomette in Benin and beyond, between critical regionalism and cultural icons.
2025-01-01
Remanence
The Evolution of Vodou in Ouidah: Between Nature and Monumental Heritage
Discover how Ouidah in Benin transforms its Vodoun traditions into monumental heritage, an asset for tourism and the economy.
2025-01-01
Remanence
Discovering Ouidah and its Mysteries: A Journey to the Heart of Benin and its Traditions
Explore the fascinating history of Ouidah in Benin, a crossroads of cultures and traditions, since the era of the Europeans.
2025-01-01
Remanence
The Amulets of the Amazons of Ouidah: Heritage and Restitution in Benin
Discover the fascinating history of the amulets of the Amazons of Ouidah and their role in cultural restitution.
2025-01-01
Pillar
The Portuguese Fort | Fort of São João Baptista de Ajudá
Built in 1721, the only Portuguese fort on the Slave Route. It survived empires, witnessed the burning of its own archives in 1961, and now refuses to sanitize what happened within its walls.
2024-02-10
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The Slave Route | Ouidah: Six Stations of Memory
A 3.5-kilometer journey through the six stations of reflection, tracing the footsteps of those who were taken.
2024-02-01
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The Tree of Forgetfulness | Ouidah: Where Identity Was Stolen
Before the ships, there was a ritual. Walk in circles around this tree, and forget who you were. The slavers called it preparation. The enslaved had another word.
2024-01-25
Pillar
The Door of No Return | Ouidah: Sacred Monument and Slavery Memory
At the edge of the Atlantic, a monument stands as testament to millions who never returned. This is where history holds its breath.
2024-01-15
Remanence
Ouidah: Heritage and Tourism at the Heart of Benin
Discover the heritage and tourism challenges of Ouidah, Benin.
2022-01-01
Remanence
African Masks in Ouidah: Between Sacred Traditions and Cultural Heritage
Discover the mysteries of African masks in Benin between sacred traditions and cultural mediation.
2020-01-01
Remanence
Exploration of Voodoo Rituals in Ouidah: Illness and Death at the Heart of Benin
Discover the voodoo rituals surrounding illness and death in Ouidah, Benin. A fascinating dive into cultural anthropology.
2019-01-01
Remanence
Corn: Culinary and Religious Heritage in Ouidah, Benin
Discover the role of corn in Vodoun in Ouidah, a captivating exploration by Rosa Nallely Moreno Moncayo.
2019-01-01
Remanence
The Agudàs of Ouidah: Brazilian Heritage and Identity in Benin
Discover the fascinating history of the Agudàs, the Brazilians of Benin, and their cultural impact in Ouidah.
2018-01-01
Remanence
Understanding the Myths of Ouidah: A Fascinating Dive into Beninese History
Explore how the myths of Ouidah reveal the human soul and the history of Benin.
2012-01-01
Remanence
Discover the Plant History of Ouidah before Colonization
Explore the historical relationships between humans and nature in Ouidah, Benin, before colonization. A fascinating journey through time.
1995-01-01