Quite honestly, they don´t look like all that much to our modern Western eyes, but hundfed-acre compound with a dozen thatch-roofed ¨palaces¨ in this city of around 90,000 about two hours from Cotonou represents the legacy of one of Africa´s most significant kingdoms, founded by the Fon people in the early 17th century and lasting till 1900, highly centralized, militaristic, and important .in the slave trade.  Nearby, the Musée Historique d'Abomey displays artifacts and relics from the kingdom, including the royal throne.

Dominik Schwarz