The return of the Abomey royal treasures by France, in November 2021, was a turning point for African heritage. France thus used a dedicated law to hand back a major set of works taken during colonisation. The return of twenty-six objects opened a wider debate, which led France to adopt a framework law in 2026. Here is the full story, from 1892 to the present day.
1892: the fall of Abomey
In 1892, French troops under Colonel Alfred Amédée Dodds conquered the Kingdom of Dahomey. In November, as they approached Abomey, King Béhanzin had part of the city set on fire before withdrawing. The soldiers then carried off thrones, statues, doors and court objects.
Dodds later gave part of this booty to the Trocadéro Ethnography Museum in Paris. The pieces then moved to the Musée de l'Homme, and finally to the Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, which opened in 2006. So for more than a century, the Beninese public could only see them in Europe. For the background, read our guide to the Royal Palaces of Abomey.
The return of the Abomey royal treasures, step by step
Benin pursued this request with great persistence. The key dates are as follows:
- 2016: Benin sends France an official request for restitution.
- 28 November 2017: in Ouagadougou, President Emmanuel Macron calls for the conditions for restitutions to be met within five years.
- November 2018: after receiving the report by Felwine Sarr and Bénédicte Savoy, the Élysée announces the return of 26 works claimed by Benin.
- 24 December 2020: Law No. 2020-1673 allows them to leave the French national collections.
- Late October 2021: the Musée du quai Branly shows them one last time to the Paris public.
- 9 November 2021: the two governments sign the restitution agreement in Paris; the works reach Cotonou the next day.
In practice, a law was needed because French public collections are inalienable. Until recently, each restitution therefore required a vote in Parliament.
What do the 26 treasures include?
The return of the Abomey royal treasures covers pieces of great artistic and symbolic value. The set includes, in particular:
- three large royal statues, half human and half animal, linked to the emblems of Ghézo (the bird), Glèlè (the lion) and Béhanzin (the shark);
- royal thrones, including those of Ghézo and Glèlè;
- four polychrome doors from the palaces of Abomey;
- portable altars (asen), récades and items of clothing;
- everyday objects, such as a loom and a leather bag.
These works reveal an organised state, with court artists, blacksmiths and renowned sculptors. They thus extend the story told by the bas-reliefs of Abomey, which our Culture page presents.
Back in Cotonou: the 2022 exhibition
After the return of the Abomey royal treasures, the works first went on show at the Marina Palace, the seat of the Presidency. The exhibition "Art du Bénin d'hier et d'aujourd'hui : de la restitution à la révélation" ran from 20 February to 22 May 2022, then again from 15 July to 29 August. It paired the 26 works with more than a hundred pieces by contemporary Beninese artists.
It was a remarkable success, with more than 200,000 visitors in total, including many school pupils. Since then, the works have remained in climate-controlled storage at the Marina Palace. They are waiting for the Museum of the Kings and Amazons of Danxomè (MuRAD), now under construction in Abomey. In April 2026, officials hoped to open it in spring 2027.
After 2021: the Kataklè and the 2026 framework law
The return of the Abomey royal treasures did not stop with these twenty-six pieces. On 13 May 2025, Benin recovered the Kataklè, a three-legged royal stool taken in 1892. A Paris museum had traded it in 1939 to the National Museum of Finland, which has now handed it back to Benin.
In France, Parliament then unanimously adopted a framework law, promulgated on 9 May 2026 (Law No. 2026-351). From now on, a decree can be enough to return property unlawfully acquired between 1815 and 1972. Beforehand, two advisory committees give their opinion, notably on provenance.
Benin has already said it wants other pieces back, above all the statue of the god Gou held at the Louvre. Other objects from Dahomey also remain in European museums, for example in Germany.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see the returned treasures today?
Not yet, at least not in a permanent exhibition. The works will go on public display once the MuRAD opens in Abomey. So keep an eye on official announcements before planning your trip.
Why was a law needed in 2020?
Because the holdings of French public museums are inalienable. Only Parliament could therefore authorise their departure, until the 2026 framework law.
How many works did the troops take in 1892?
The exact figure is unknown. However, the 1892 booty was far larger than the 27 pieces already back in Benin, and the rest now lies in several collections.
The return of the Abomey royal treasures reflects renewed cultural cooperation. To discover this heritage on site, apply for your electronic visa and read our History page; Honorary Consulate of Benin in Liège will answer your questions through the Contact page. Also worth reading: the Dahomey Amazons.
Sources
- Légifrance: Law No. 2020-1673 of 24 December 2020 (in French)
- French Ministry of Culture: Final adoption of the framework law (in French)
- Government of Benin: Return of the Kataklè by Finland (in French)
- Franceinfo: The 26 works await their museum (in French, April 2026)
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