#kingdom of dahomey

[jbk405]

Today I was talking to a friend about the MCU, and she said that Wakanda Forever was not up to the level of Black Panther. Hardly a minority opinion. But then she said that the Dora Milaje film was also much better than WF.

At first I couldn't think of what she meant, because there hasn't been a standalone DM film. Until I realized she meant The Woman King, the historical drama based on the Agojie and the Kingdom of Dahomey.

I think this is the second time I've seen this exact same mistake. Where somebody thinks The Woman King is an MCU prequel about the history of the DM and Wakanda.

The Dora Milaje are indeed partially-inspired by the real-life Agojie, but The Woman King film never tries to imply any connection. The fact that this same mistake has happened twice...

[onenakedfarmer]

Currently Watching

THE WOMAN KING Gina Prince-Bythewood USA, 2022

[ruleof3bobby]

THE WOMAN KING (2022) Grade: C+

Did not need to be 2 hours. 130-140 minutes would've been a sweet spot. Dragged. Good action scenes that were hurt by the overall pace of the film. Felt like it didn't know whether to tell an epic drama or 300 with women.

[elbiotipo]

I'm trying to develop my worldbuilding but have run into a problem. I don't want to do what usual fantasy settings do where specific "races" have very specific personality and cultural traits, so I'm trying to make a setting with different anthropomorphic "races" coexisting to different extents. The problem is, anytime I question myself on how somehow could've happened or how the different species ended up in their current sociopolitical climate, I don't know when to stop. If it were for me, I'd go as far back as the discovery of fire. How do you know when to stop?

Ideally you never stop, but I understand that sometimes you want to get on with a story. And that's another thing about worldbuilding, once you start creating a world different from Earth, you start asking yourself... well, why this world had the same evolution as Earth, wouldn't different geography result in different species? And then you go into speculative biology and speculative evolution and that's a rabbit hole you will never get out of. And more, you can say, why should this world have the same day length, year length, axial tilt, size as Earth... and THAT'S when you do worldbuilding for real, the worldbuilding never ends.

But here's a tip to make it easier. If you don't know something, if you don't know how to stop, you can always draw from real-life Earth. For example, let's say that you don't want to do the entire evolution of life. You have a cheat sheet; you can use the Biogeographic Realms, and mix and match fauna and flora, and you can assume evolution took a relatively Earth-like turn since your world's continents formed. You have all the life you would expect from regular Earth, and you add your own twists as needed.

For example, in one project, I wanted a Southern hemisphere vibe, so I created a world where the flora and fauna are Neotropical (South American) and Australasian, with some extinct creatures from those places, which is totally justifiable because many species can stay alive for a long time even extinct elsewhere. I just assumed that evolution followed roughly the same path there, which for a fantasy world with actual gods is more than fine.

If you are stuck in certain places on how to create your civilizations, you have literally all of human history and culture to draw from. If you don't know how civilizations in jungles develop, for example, it's time to learn about the Maya and wider Mesoamerica, Srivijaya and Majapahit, the kingdoms of Western Africa like Dahomey, Benin, Oyo, the cultures of the Amazon... Every place in this planet is full of vibrant history, culture and solutions to problems that make for great worldbuilding. You have to be careful about taking inspirations from real life cultures, but it's better that you learn about them rather than not doing research at all!

This is why I insist that people learn about real-life geography and history. Not because CINEMASINS DING, but because once you do, worldbuilding becomes easy and fun. Once you learn the rules about how the real world works, you can twist them and break them as you wish.

[psychotrenny]

Was reading a paper about the socio-political significance of decapitation in the Kingdom of Dahomey when I got a reminder of just how comically obsessed with phrenology 19th century Europeans were. Basically, John Duncan was a Scotsman and former soldier who traveled through West Africa several times in the 1840s, meeting King Gezo of Dahomey himself in 1845. Now the Dahomeans were known for their custom of taking skulls from defeated enemies and keeping them in the royal palace, so during this visit

Duncan asked King Gezo to show him 'a few skulls of natives of the different countries he had conquered' to assist his phrenological researches.

Just straight out like "Cool skulls bro mind if I measure them for racism reasons?". Actually beyond parody

[longliveblackness]

1937 Portrait of the only surviving female warriors, who had fought against the French in 1895, Abomey, Dahomey Kingdom, Benin Republic.

•••

Retrato de 1937 de las guerreras sobrevivientes que lucharon contra los franceses en 1895. Abomey, Reino Dahomey, República de Benín.

[sassynsweet179]

The Dahomey Amazons were a military unit of female warriors who fought in the Kingdom of Dahomey from the 17th to 19th centuries. They were also known as the Agojie, Minos, or Ahosi.

Known for:

Fearlessness: The Amazons were known for their bravery in battle, whether fighting neighboring tribes or European forces.

Combat prowess: They were known for their effectiveness in combat and were often deployed on the front lines.

Protecting the king: They also served as bodyguards and palace guards.

Organization:

Each regiment had specific roles and weapons, such as archers, riflewomen, and reapers.

They were structured in parallel with the army, with a center wing of bodyguards flanked by separate wings.

Some accounts note that each male soldier had a female warrior counterpart.

Legacy:

The Dahomey Amazons inspired the Dora Milaje in Marvel's Black Panther stories.

They were also the focus of the 2022 film The Woman King, which featured a fictionalized account of a Dahomey warrior general.

[kemetic-dreams]

The proper name for the West African religion is vodúnsínsen, which means "spirit worship". The spelling Vodún is often used to differentiate it from the Haitian religion, which is usually spelled Vodou.

The term "voodoo" is considered offensive for naming the religion outside of Louisiana. The word "voodoo" originated in Louisiana around 1850, likely from the French word "voudou" or the West African word "vodu"

The religion of Vodun originated in the ancient kingdom of Dahomey, which is now part of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The name comes from the Fon word for "God" or "Spirit"

[lightdancer1]

Ending today's set of posts with the Ahosi:

Ending today's set of posts with the Ahosi, or the Dahomey Amazons as they are more famously known. By the usual sleight of hand of popular culture they are mainly famous today as inspirations for the Dora Milaje of the Black Panther series in both comics and in the movies, while the actual organization was a standard elite unit among many in the region noticeable mostly for being officially wives of the King of Dahomey and for their role in the slave trade.

Far from resisting it they were among the key units involved in the butcher and burn approach that brought the enslaved people from the interior to the ports that sold them, as well as fighting battles with mixed success against other African states. Against Oyo they did very well indeed, against the Egba they were slaughtered in carload lots with the rest of the Dahomeyan army. Against the claim that slavery was peripheral is the reality that elite army units were sent to be a part of the trade and in pre-industrial and post-industrial societies alike people do not send elite army units on minor aspects if they don't want to get those units to decide to play kingmaker and unveil 'the secret of empire.' What the elite units are sent to do matters to the temporal power of the state and always will.

They would also see service against the French in the Scramble in the final conquest and fall of the Kingdom of Dahomey.

[panafrocore]

The Rise of the Oyo Empire in West Africa

The Oyo Empire stands as a testament to the rich history and culture of West Africa. Spanning across present-day southern Benin and western Nigeria, this powerful empire emerged as the largest Yoruba-speaking state, thanks to the indomitable spirit and strategic prowess of the Yoruba people. At its zenith, the Oyo Empire was a beacon of influence and authority in Western Africa from the mid-17th…

[max1461]

Funny that one of the major pre-colonial West African kingdoms was called Dahomey. Da homie. Kind of racist.

[theglowsociety]

Movies About Black Women in History 🎥

If you’re looking for inspiring films that highlight the achievements, struggles, and resilience of Black women throughout history, here are some must-watch movies:

1. Hidden Figures (2016)

Who It’s About: Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—three Black women mathematicians at NASA who played a crucial role in the U.S. space race.

Why Watch: It sheds light on their groundbreaking contributions to space exploration while navigating racism and sexism in the 1960s.

2. Harriet (2019)

Who It’s About: Harriet Tubman, the legendary abolitionist and conductor of the Underground Railroad.

Why Watch: The film showcases her bravery in leading enslaved people to freedom and her later work as a Union spy during the Civil War.

3. The Color Purple (1985 & 2023)

Who It’s About: Celie, a Black woman in the early 20th century South, and her journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

Why Watch: Based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, it’s a powerful story of resilience, sisterhood, and overcoming oppression.

4. Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (2020, Netflix Limited Series)

Who It’s About: Madam C.J. Walker, the first self-made Black female millionaire in the U.S.

Why Watch: This series dives into how she built a beauty empire despite racism, sexism, and personal struggles.

5. The Woman King (2022)

Who It’s About: The Agojie, an all-female warrior unit in the Kingdom of Dahomey, led by General Nanisca.

Why Watch: Though it’s a fictionalized retelling, it’s inspired by real African female warriors and their fight against colonial forces.

6. Respect (2021)

Who It’s About: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul.

Why Watch: The biopic explores her rise to fame, activism, and impact on music history.

7. Queen of Katwe (2016)

Who It’s About: Phiona Mutesi, a young Ugandan chess prodigy.

Why Watch: It’s a heartwarming story of how she used chess to change her life and inspire others.

8. Bessie (2015, HBO)

Who It’s About: Bessie Smith, the Empress of the Blues.

Why Watch: The film follows her rise to fame in the 1920s, highlighting her struggles and triumphs in a segregated America.

9. Clemency (2019)

Who It’s About: A fictionalized but realistic portrayal of a Black female prison warden dealing with the morality of the death penalty.

Why Watch: It’s a thought-provoking film that explores systemic injustice and emotional turmoil in the criminal justice system.

10. Miss Juneteenth (2020)

Who It’s About: A former beauty queen preparing her daughter for a prestigious Juneteenth pageant.

Why Watch: It’s a touching exploration of Black motherhood, tradition, and resilience.

These films celebrate the strength, intelligence, and impact of Black women throughout history. Which ones have you seen or want to watch next?

[murfpersonalblog]

Black Vampires & Papa Legba

Annette (Haiti/Saint-Domingue) - Castlevania Nocturne Louis de Pointe du Lac (Haitian-Creole, New Orleans) - Interview with the Vampire

Papa Legba is a lwa, or loa, in West African Vodun and its diasporic derivatives (Dominican Republic Vudú, Haitian Vodou, Louisiana Voodoo, and Winti), who serves as the intermediary between God and humanity. He stands at a spiritual crossroads and gives (or denies) permission to speak with the spirits of Guineé, and is believed to speak all human languages. In Haiti, he is the great elocutioner. Legba facilitates communication, speech, and understanding. He is commonly associated with dogs. Papa Legba is invoked at the beginning of every ceremony. Papa Legba has his origins in the historic West African kingdom of Dahomey, located within present-day Benin. He usually appears as an old man on a crutch or with a cane, wearing a broad-brimmed straw hat and smoking a pipe, or drinking dark rum. The dog is sacred to him. Legba is syncretized with Saint Peter, Saint Lazarus, and Saint Anthony. His veve incorporates a walking cane on the right side. Offerings to him typically include candy. (Wikipedia)

In the Haitian religion of Vodou, Legba is seen as the intermediary between mortal men and the loa, or lwa. The loa are a group of spirits responsible for various aspects of daily life, and they are the children of a supreme creator, Bondye. They are divided into families, such as the Ghede and Ogou, and practitioners develop relationships with them through offerings, petitions, and prayers. Often, Papa Legba is the one who carries these prayers to the loa. (LearnReligions)

[city-of-ladies]

"If there is one fact about the amazons that is indisputable, it is their consistently outstanding performance in combat. Not unexpectedly, practically the only author to cast doubt on this was Burton, for whom the idea that black females (not to speak of males) might excel on the battlefield was hard to accept: “The ‘Amazons’ boast themselves invulnerable, but readily retreat: an equal number of British charwomen, armed with the British broomstick, would - I lay, to speak Yorkishly— clear them off in very few hours.”Elsewhere he damns them with faint praise:‘The women are as brave as, if not braver than, their brethren in arms, who certainly do not shine in that department of manliness.”

The first inkling that the women soldiers of Dahomey might be first-class fighters comes from Labarthe’s informant who, in 1776, watched them perform shooting drills at Abomey and found them “very resolute”. By 1830, as Conneau learned at Whydah, their “bravery [was] a noted fact and [was] proverbial with the natives.” By the next decade the amazons’ reputation was established among Europeans too. At Cana in 1843 Freeman saw a “brigade” of them fire their guns. Not only did they shoot well, he says, but they “appeared totally void of fear”. The next year de Monléon remarked that the women had “often given striking proof of courage and audacity”. In 1845 Duncan saw amazon officers being rewarded for their “valour”.

Regarding the terror the women aroused among neighboring peoples, Chautard relates an anecdote from the 1880s. A group of amazons traveled from Whydah to Agoué, a port town beyond the kingdom near what is now Togo, perhaps as an escort for traders. The whole population crowded the town square to see the legendary ladies up close. The female “general” confronted the local male warriors and challenged the very best of them to a duel with swords to determine which sex was stronger. “In less than two minutes”, she boasted, “his head will adorn the tip of my sword!” To the shame of his sex, says Chautard, not one warrior volunteered.

The adjectives applied to the amazons over the decades were brave, courageous, valorous, valiant, fearless, intrepid, cruel, pitiless, merciless, implacable, relentless, bloodthirsty, fierce, ferocious, furious, audacious, impetuous, ardent, fanatic, disciplined, devoted (to the king), indomitable, redoubtable, formidable, vigorous, resolute, tenacious, determined, persevering. Often they were said to surpass their male colleagues — in valor, in intrepidity, in courage, in bravery, in cruelty, in discipline. “In this singular country”, Vallon reported, “the women’s army is accounted much more warlike than the men’s.” According to Bouët, there was no memory of any of the amazons fleeing combat whereas men had often been punished for doing it."

Amazons of Black Sparta: The Women Warriors of Dahomey, Stanley B. Alpern

[blackhistorystoryteller]

Black history is not slavery

Please tell my black brothers and sisters in America this

Try visiting an African country and learn about our histories and cultures

Today I will tell you about

The Kingdom of Benin, also known as the Edo Kingdom or the Benin Empire (Bini: Arriọba ẹdo), was a kingdom within what is now southern Nigeria.[2] It has no historical relation to the modern republic of Benin,[3] which was known as Dahomey from the 17th century until 1975. The Kingdom of Benin's capital was Edo, now known as Benin City in Edo State, Nigeria. The Benin Kingdom was "one of the oldest and most developed states in the coastal hinterland of West Africa". It grew out of the previous Edo Kingdom of Igodomigodo around the 11th century AD,[4] and lasted until it was annexed by the British Empire in 1897.[5]