The Dahomey Amazons were an all-female military corps serving the kings of Dahomey (Danxomè) from the 18th century to the end of the 19th. Their bravery struck European travellers, who gave them this name from Greek mythology. In Benin, they remain a powerful symbol of courage and national pride. Here is their history, free of both clichés and romanticised accounts.
Agojie, Mino: who were the Dahomey Amazons?
In the Fon language, people called them Agojie (or Agodjié). They were also known as Mino, "our mothers". In addition, they held the status of ahosi, "wives of the king": they lived in the palace and could not marry or have children while in service.
This status gave them high rank and great prestige at court. Indeed, they answered directly to the king. Our History page places this corps within the story of the kingdom.
From huntresses to Ghézo's regiments
The origins of the Dahomey Amazons combine oral tradition and written sources. Here are the key stages:
- In the 17th century, tradition credits King Houégbadja with creating groups of women elephant hunters, the gbeto.
- Early in the 18th century, tradition also links Queen Tassi Hangbè to the birth of a female guard.
- In 1729, a European source first mentions these fighters, shortly after King Agadja conquered Savi and Ouidah.
- Under Ghézo (1818-1858), the corps became a permanent part of the army. European observers then put its strength at between 4,000 and 6,000 women.
By the mid-19th century, the Agojie thus made up a large share of the kingdom's troops. To picture their world, read our guide to the Royal Palaces of Abomey.
Organisation, training and battles
First, recruitment varied over time. There were volunteers, but also girls chosen by their families and captives from defeated lands. Training was also extremely hard. For example, recruits had to cross barriers of thorns, barefoot, during public exercises.
At court, the Agojie also took part in the great annual ceremonies, known as the "Customs", where they paraded before the king and foreign visitors. Moreover, sources describe several specialised units:
- musket-bearers, who formed the bulk of the force;
- "reapers", armed with large razors;
- elephant huntresses, famed for their daring;
- archers and gunners, fewer in number.
The Dahomey Amazons won victories, but they also suffered heavy defeats. In 1851 and again in 1864, attacks on the fortified city of Abeokuta, in present-day Nigeria, failed and cost many lives.
Facing the French conquest (1890-1894)
In 1890, during the First Franco-Dahomean War, the Agojie attacked French positions in Cotonou, among others. Then, in 1892, Colonel Dodds launched a new campaign towards Abomey. The warriors then fought fiercely, often hand to hand. However, against artillery and modern rifles, their losses were terrible.
After Béhanzin's surrender and the establishment of the protectorate in 1894, the corps disappeared. Decades later, in 1978, a Beninese historian met Nawi, a former fighter who said she had faced the French in 1892. She died in November 1979, aged over one hundred. Since then, historians have regarded her as the last known survivor.
A living memory in Benin
Today, the Dahomey Amazons hold a central place in national memory. Several signs bear witness to this:
- The Amazon Monument: unveiled in late July 2022 by President Patrice Talon, this 30-metre statue towers over the Esplanade des Amazones in Cotonou, near the Boulevard de la Marina.
- The country brand: since 2025, the "Bénin, un monde de splendeurs" logo has featured the Amazons of Danxomè. Read our article Tourism: « Bénin, un monde de splendeurs ».
- The future museum in Abomey: the Museum of the Kings and Amazons of Danxomè (MuRAD) will give them pride of place. It will also house the works covered in our feature on the return of the Abomey royal treasures.
On screen, the American film The Woman King (2022), directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and starring Viola Davis, made the Agojie famous worldwide. Its story takes place in the 1820s, under Ghézo. Still, it remains fiction: several historians noted that it plays down the role of the slave trade in the kingdom's economy. In fact, the name of its heroine, Nanisca, belonged to a young warrior killed during the attack on Cotonou in 1890.
Frequently asked questions
Did the Dahomey Amazons really exist?
Yes, because many European accounts from the 18th and 19th centuries describe them. Moreover, Beninese oral tradition and historians' research confirm their role.
Why are they called "Amazons"?
Because Europeans compared them to the warrior women of Greek mythology. So in Benin, people often prefer the names Agojie or Mino.
Where can you discover their history in Benin?
In Cotonou, at the Amazon Monument, then in Abomey, at the site of the royal palaces. Later, the MuRAD in Abomey will become the main place to learn about them.
The story of the Dahomey Amazons is best understood on the spot, from Abomey to Cotonou. To prepare your trip, apply for your electronic visa and read our Visiting Benin page; Honorary Consulate of Benin in Liège is here to help through the Contact page.
Sources
- Government of Benin: Discovering the Amazon Monument (in French)
- Smithsonian Magazine: The Real History Behind The Woman King
- Wikipedia: Dahomey Amazons
