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Benin Collection

"Discover the Rich Cultural Heritage of Benin: From Ivory Masks to Voodoo Fetishes" Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Benin, a country nestled in West Africa

Background imageBenin Collection: An ivory mask from Benin, Nigeria worn by the Oba of Benin on ceremonial occasions

An ivory mask from Benin, Nigeria worn by the Oba of Benin on ceremonial occasions
This mask was worn by the Oba of Benin at the waist on ceremonial occasions. It represents an ancestor or predecessor

Background imageBenin Collection: Africa Political Map

Africa Political Map
Antique illustration of a Africa Political Map from 1893

Background imageBenin Collection: Street scene, Porto Novo, Benin, West Africa, Africa

Street scene, Porto Novo, Benin, West Africa, Africa

Background imageBenin Collection: Choir singing, Sunday celebration at the Celestial Church of Christ, Missessinto

Choir singing, Sunday celebration at the Celestial Church of Christ, Missessinto, Atlantique, Benin, West Africa, Africa

Background imageBenin Collection: Amazons, warriors and witch doctors of Dahomey (coloured engraving)

Amazons, warriors and witch doctors of Dahomey (coloured engraving)
960269 Amazons, warriors and witch doctors of Dahomey (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Amazons, warriors and witch doctors of Dahomey)

Background imageBenin Collection: Africa, Benin, Grand Popo. Zangbeto ceremony in heve

Africa, Benin, Grand Popo. Zangbeto ceremony in heve

Background imageBenin Collection: Africa, Benin, Grand Popo. A voodoo shrine at Heve

Africa, Benin, Grand Popo. A voodoo shrine at Heve

Background imageBenin Collection: Africa, Benin, Savalou. Sacrificing a goat to the Dankoli voodoo fetish

Africa, Benin, Savalou. Sacrificing a goat to the Dankoli voodoo fetish

Background imageBenin Collection: Anthropology: representation of a negre dahomeen from Benin. Plate drawn from the end of the 19th

Anthropology: representation of a negre dahomeen from Benin. Plate drawn from the end of the 19th century
JAB5037177 Anthropology: representation of a negre dahomeen from Benin. Plate drawn from the end of the 19th century.; (add.info.: Anthropology: representation of a negre dahomeen from Benin)

Background imageBenin Collection: A noble from the kingdom of Juida or Whidah (Benin) and a woman from Congo with her baby

A noble from the kingdom of Juida or Whidah (Benin) and a woman from Congo with her baby
FLO4635251 A noble from the kingdom of Juida or Whidah (Benin) and a woman from Congo with her baby. Lithography for the book

Background imageBenin Collection: Natives of the kingdom of Ardra (Benin). Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Antonio Sasso

Natives of the kingdom of Ardra (Benin). Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Antonio Sasso from Giulio Ferrario's
FLO4620050 Natives of the kingdom of Ardra (Benin). Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Antonio Sasso from Giulio Ferrario's Ancient and Modern Costumes of all the Peoples of the World

Background imageBenin Collection: BEHANZIN (1841-1906). King of Dahomey (1890-1894). Kingdom of Dahomey (c19th)

BEHANZIN (1841-1906). King of Dahomey (1890-1894). Kingdom of Dahomey (c19th)
AIS5393939 BEHANZIN (1841-1906). King of Dahomey (1890-1894). Kingdom of Dahomey (c19th). King Behanzin cowries distributing his troops

Background imageBenin Collection: Costumes of religious elite of Ouidah, Benin, and an idol of black clay with a crown of lizards

Costumes of religious elite of Ouidah, Benin, and an idol of black clay with a crown of lizards
FLO4620031 Costumes of religious elite of Ouidah, Benin, and an idol of black clay with a crown of lizards, snakes and feathers seated on a pedestal

Background imageBenin Collection: Public appearance of the king of Benin, Africa, with drummers, trumpeters, panthers and dwarf

Public appearance of the king of Benin, Africa, with drummers, trumpeters, panthers and dwarf
FLO4620058 Public appearance of the king of Benin, Africa, with drummers, trumpeters, panthers and dwarf. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Antonio Sasso from Giulio Ferrario's Ancient

Background imageBenin Collection: Amazons and warriors of Dahomey, a serie created by Pellerin printer, 1860 (Epinal print)

Amazons and warriors of Dahomey, a serie created by Pellerin printer, 1860 (Epinal print)
5669772 Amazons and warriors of Dahomey, a serie created by Pellerin printer, 1860 (Epinal print); (add.info.: Jean-Charles Pellerin (1756-1836), French draftsman, illustrator and printer

Background imageBenin Collection: Temple of snakes (engraving)

Temple of snakes (engraving)
3479434 Temple of snakes (engraving); (add.info.: Pre-animist religion worshiping snakes. The temple of snakes at Dahomey, Africa.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Background imageBenin Collection: French possessions and colonies: french west Africa, french Dahomey

French possessions and colonies: french west Africa, french Dahomey. End of the 19th century (chromolithograph)
ELD4964686 French possessions and colonies: french west Africa, french Dahomey. End of the 19th century (chromolithograph); Private Collection; Photo © The Holbarn Archive

Background imageBenin Collection: Indigenous city in Benin. Lithography for the book: ' Galerie complete en tableaux fideles des

Indigenous city in Benin. Lithography for the book: " Galerie complete en tableaux fideles des peuples
FLO4635237 Indigenous city in Benin. Lithography for the book: " Galerie complete en tableaux fideles des peuples d'Afrique" by Friedrich Wilhelm Goedsche (1785-1863)

Background imageBenin Collection: Festival in honour of the Serpent God (centered around Ouidah, Benin)

Festival in honour of the Serpent God (centered around Ouidah, Benin). Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Antonio
FLO4620026 Festival in honour of the Serpent God (centered around Ouidah, Benin). Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Antonio Sasso from Giulio Ferrario's Ancient

Background imageBenin Collection: Campaign of the Dahomey: entry of the French flag in Abomey on 17 November 1892

Campaign of the Dahomey: entry of the French flag in Abomey on 17 November 1892, 19th century (chromo)
PCT4279159 Campaign of the Dahomey: entry of the French flag in Abomey on 17 November 1892, 19th century (chromo); (add.info.: Campaign of the Dahomey (former name of Benin)

Background imageBenin Collection: Mosquito

Mosquito
Burak Senbak

Background imageBenin Collection: Child from Benin

Child from Benin
Joxe Inazio Kuesta Garmendia

Background imageBenin Collection: Boys at school in Benin

Boys at school in Benin
Joxe Inazio Kuesta Garmendia

Background imageBenin Collection: Costumes de Différents Pays, Roi de Juida, c1797. Creator: Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur

Costumes de Différents Pays, Roi de Juida, c1797. Creator: Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur
Costumes de Differents Pays, Roi de Juida, c1797

Background imageBenin Collection: Costumes de Différents Pays, Guerrier de Guida, c1797. Creator: Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur

Costumes de Différents Pays, Guerrier de Guida, c1797. Creator: Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur
Costumes de Differents Pays, Guerrier de Guida, c1797

Background imageBenin Collection: Costumes de Différents Pays, Favori du Roi de Guida, c1797. Creator

Costumes de Différents Pays, Favori du Roi de Guida, c1797. Creator: Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur
Costumes de Differents Pays, Favori du Roi de Guida, c1797

Background imageBenin Collection: Costumes de Différents Pays, Negre du Royaume d'Ardra, c1797

Costumes de Différents Pays, Negre du Royaume d'Ardra, c1797. Creators: Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur
Costumes de Differents Pays, Negre du Royaume d'Ardra, c1797

Background imageBenin Collection: Costumes de Différents Pays, Gentilhomme du Roÿaume d'Aardra, c1797

Costumes de Différents Pays, Gentilhomme du Roÿaume d'Aardra, c1797. Creator: Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur
Costumes de Differents Pays, Gentilhomme du Royaume d'Aardra, c1797

Background imageBenin Collection: Fascinu, Son of Gbehanzi, King of Dahomey, 1891. Creator: Unknown

Fascinu, Son of Gbehanzi, King of Dahomey, 1891. Creator: Unknown
Fascinu, Son of Gbehanzi, King of Dahomey, 1891. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper", Volume 44. July to December, 1891

Background imageBenin Collection: The Governor of Lagos, and the Envoys of the King of Dahomey, 1891. Creator: Unknown

The Governor of Lagos, and the Envoys of the King of Dahomey, 1891. Creator: Unknown
The Governor of Lagos, and the Envoys of the King of Dahomey, 1891. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper", Volume 44. July to December, 1891

Background imageBenin Collection: Voodoo festival in the streets of Ouidah, Benin, West Africa, Africa

Voodoo festival in the streets of Ouidah, Benin, West Africa, Africa

Background imageBenin Collection: Wore African school classroom, Hevie, Benin, West Africa, Africa

Wore African school classroom, Hevie, Benin, West Africa, Africa

Background imageBenin Collection: Benin with mask

Benin with mask
Color satellite image of Benin, with mask

Background imageBenin Collection: Benin with borders and mask

Benin with borders and mask
Color satellite image of Benin, with borders and mask

Background imageBenin Collection: Benin with borders

Benin with borders
Color satellite image of Benin and neighbouring countries, with borders

Background imageBenin Collection: Benin and Togo

Benin and Togo
Color satellite image of Benin and Togo and neighbouring countries

Background imageBenin Collection: Africa, Benin, Ouidah. A modern statue of a voodoo divinity in the sacred forest

Africa, Benin, Ouidah. A modern statue of a voodoo divinity in the sacred forest

Background imageBenin Collection: Africa, Benin, Grand Popo. Salt Making in a little village by the mono river

Africa, Benin, Grand Popo. Salt Making in a little village by the mono river

Background imageBenin Collection: Africa, Benin, Grand Popo. Fresh fish at the market on the beach

Africa, Benin, Grand Popo. Fresh fish at the market on the beach

Background imageBenin Collection: Africa, Benin, Lake Nokoua. A woman on the way to the waterseller in the famous stilt

Africa, Benin, Lake Nokoua. A woman on the way to the waterseller in the famous stilt
Africa, Benin, Lake NokouA©. A woman on the way to the waterseller in the famous stilt village of Ganvie

Background imageBenin Collection: Africa, Benin, Ketou. wooden sculptures at the museum of Akaba Idena, famous for the

Africa, Benin, Ketou. wooden sculptures at the museum of Akaba Idena, famous for the magic door

Background imageBenin Collection: Africa, Benin, Ketou. The museum of Akaba Idena, famous for the magic door

Africa, Benin, Ketou. The museum of Akaba Idena, famous for the magic door

Background imageBenin Collection: Africa, Benin, Porto Novo, Ajara. A drum player

Africa, Benin, Porto Novo, Ajara. A drum player

Background imageBenin Collection: I am a grandmother

I am a grandmother
Corinne Spector

Background imageBenin Collection: Ovra dancer, Ebo tribe, Benin, Nigeria, West Africa

Ovra dancer, Ebo tribe, Benin, Nigeria, West Africa
Ovra dancer in full costume, Ebo (Edo) tribe, Benin, Nigeria, West Africa. Date: 1922

Background imageBenin Collection: Two Girls Under Plum Tree. Creator: Nishikawa Sukenobu

Two Girls Under Plum Tree. Creator: Nishikawa Sukenobu
Two Girls Under Plum Tree

Background imageBenin Collection: The Goddess Akla Mami, Voodoo shrine in Cotonou, Benin, West Africa, Africa

The Goddess Akla Mami, Voodoo shrine in Cotonou, Benin, West Africa, Africa

Background imageBenin Collection: Voodoo goddess, Voodoo shrine in Cotonou, Benin, West Africa, Africa

Voodoo goddess, Voodoo shrine in Cotonou, Benin, West Africa, Africa




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"Discover the Rich Cultural Heritage of Benin: From Ivory Masks to Voodoo Fetishes" Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Benin, a country nestled in West Africa. Known for its captivating history and diverse traditions, this enchanting land offers a plethora of experiences that will leave you awe-inspired. One cannot mention Benin without acknowledging its iconic ivory mask, worn by the revered Oba during ceremonial occasions. This masterpiece showcases the exquisite craftsmanship and artistic prowess that has been passed down through generations. Exploring further, you'll come across the infamous Route des Esclaves in Ouidah, also known as the Route of Slaves. Standing on its beachfront evokes a somber reflection on humanity's dark past while honoring those who suffered during this tragic chapter. Venturing into Porto Novo, witness a bustling street scene that encapsulates everyday life in this vibrant city. The blend of traditional and modern influences is evident as locals go about their daily routines amidst colorful markets and lively football matches. Delve deeper into Beninese culture and encounter legendary figures like the Amazons - fierce warriors who played an integral role in Dahomey's history. Colored engravings bring these tales to life, showcasing their strength and bravery alongside witch doctors who hold mystical powers within their grasp. Religion plays a significant role here too; experience Sunday celebrations at the Celestial Church of Christ where choirs fill Missessinto with harmonious melodies that resonate deep within your soul. For those seeking spiritual enlightenment or simply curious about ancient practices, witnessing sacrifices made to Dankoli voodoo fetish in Savalou offers an intriguing glimpse into local beliefs and customs. Beyond all these remarkable facets lies something truly heartwarming – grandmothers nurturing love throughout households. Their wisdom permeates every corner as they pass down age-old traditions from one generation to another while ensuring familial bonds remain strong. To truly understand the essence of Benin, step into its kitchens and markets.