The Beninese authorities are currently at the heart of a delicate affair related to the recade of King Behanzin, a traditional emblem of the Kingdom of Dahomey. This historic piece, which was to be auctioned in Paris, has been at the center of a controversy concerning its origin and ownership. Recent attempts to sell this ancestral object have sparked indignation and mobilization of the Beninese authorities with a view to its repatriation.
Discovered by chance after the broadcast of a report on RFI, the sale of the recade immediately attracted the attention of Beninese cultural leaders. Concerned about preserving the national heritage, the Beninese Minister of Culture, Jean-Michel Abimbola, has taken steps to suspend the sale of the object, with a view to its restitution to Benin.
The recade in question, composed of two distinct parts, represents more than just a historical artifact for Benin. It embodies the heritage and memory of a bygone era, that of the reign of King Behanzin. This gesture of preservation and promotion of cultural heritage is part of a global approach aimed at reestablishing links with the history and national identity of Benin.
With the support of the French Ministry of Culture, Benin is seeking to work towards an appropriate restitution of the recade. The question of the direct acquisition of the object is raised, but Minister Abimbola insists on the need to favor legal and diplomatic mechanisms to achieve a consensual repatriation. The ongoing discussions involve not only the French authorities, but also the family currently in possession of the recade, as well as the auction house concerned.
The saga surrounding King Behanzin’s recade highlights the crucial issues related to the preservation of African cultural heritage and its restitution in a context of memory and historical justice. Beyond the material object, it is a whole history, an identity and a dignity that are at stake in these processes of repatriation and valorization of the national heritage.
In conclusion, this case reveals the will and commitment of the Beninese authorities to defend and promote their cultural heritage, while recalling the importance of preserving the collective memory and recognizing the legitimate rights of peoples to the restitution of their cultural property.