Dahomey’s Royal Architecture

The Royal Palace of Abomey, spanning over 108 acres and encircled by a two-mile wall, serves as a historic record demonstrating how architecture can be manipulated to serve political, religious, or cultural agendas across nearly four centuries. Originally destroyed in 1892 to prevent capture by French colonial forces, portions of the palace were later restored for colonial administration before being transformed into a museum in 1945 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. The study documents the palace's physical transformations, revealing its enduring religious significance despite shifting purposes—from royal residence to colonial outpost to cultural institution. This research highlights the intersection of architecture, history, and identity in West Africa, offering insights into post-colonial studies, religious practices, and the preservation of heritage.

Ellsworth Larsen, L. (2023). Dahomey’s Royal Architecture. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003297383