Publications
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.
The vanishing paths of African artefacts: Mapping the Parisian auction market for "primitive" objects in the interwar period
African artifacts, particularly those from the Royal Palaces of Abomey, held significant value during the 1930s financial crisis despite being generally undervalued in the interwar Parisian auction market. This study reconstructs the commercial paths of these objects by analyzing auction records and catalogues from Hôtel Drouot, identifying key actors and comparing prices with other 'primitive' artifacts. The research highlights how European collector preferences influenced market dynamics, with African items often fetching lower hammer prices—except for Abomey's royal objects, which served as stable investments.
Remote Assessment of Cultural Heritage Environments with Wireless Sensor Array Networks
A novel dosimetric system leveraging piezoelectric quartz crystal (PQC) technology demonstrates significant potential for remote environmental monitoring of cultural heritage sites. This system, featuring PQCs coated with metals (Fe, Cu, Ni, Sn), alongside temperature and humidity sensors, enables real-time data visualization via low-power radio and GPRS gateways while maintaining minimal energy consumption. Field deployments at Apsley House in London and the Royal Palaces of Abomey in Benin validated its effectiveness, showcasing high transmission success rates and accurate environmental measurements. The approach addresses logistical and cost challenges associated with traditional monitoring methods, offering a scalable solution for heritage managers to assess the holistic impact of environmental factors on cultural materials.
The Royal Palace of Dahomey
The Royal Palace of Dahomey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Abomey, Benin, has undergone significant transformations during French colonial and post-colonial periods. This study reveals its multifaceted role as a site for religious ceremonies, political struggle, and a symbol of non-European identity. The research documents the physical changes to the palace complex in relation to its evolving functions while critically examining the ethical implications of external political influences. It also explores how the palace and royal history continue to shape contemporary identity and domestic architecture in Benin.
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