Mati Diop's Golden Bear-winning film 'Dahomey' examines contradictions of repatriating 26 looted artifacts to Benin
Mati Diop's documentary 'Dahomey' secured the Golden Bear at the 2024 Berlin Berlinale. The film chronicles the 2022 return of 26 cultural artifacts, taken from the Kingdom of Dahomey (1600–1904), from France to Benin. Among these items are statues of kings Glele and Béhanzin, which were transferred from the Musée du Quai Branly–Jacques Chirac to the Palais de la Marina in Cotonou. Voiced by Alex Descas, the narration comes from the statue of King Ghezo. The documentary also showcases the efforts of Black and Arab contractors in Paris and features discussions among students at the University of Abomey-Calavi regarding a $22.5 million French loan for a museum, critiquing the bureaucratic challenges of repatriation and postcolonial disparities.
Key facts
- Mati Diop's film 'Dahomey' won the Golden Bear at the 2024 Berlin Berlinale
- The documentary follows the 2022 repatriation of 26 looted artifacts from France to Benin
- Artifacts include statues and thrones of kings Glele and Béhanzin from the Kingdom of Dahomey (1600–1904)
- Objects were returned from Musée du Quai Branly–Jacques Chirac in Paris to Palais de la Marina in Cotonou
- Approximately 7,000 African cultural objects remain in France due to colonial exploits
- Benin's President Patrice Talon accepted a $22.5 million loan from France to build a museum in Abomey
- French President Emmanuel Macron pledged in 2017 to return African objects within five years
- The film features narration by actor Alex Descas as the statue of King Ghezo
Entities
Artists
- Mati Diop
- Alex Descas
- Claire Denis
- Bayo Hassan-Bello
- Sarah Jilani
Institutions
- Berlin Berlinale
- Musée du Quai Branly–Jacques Chirac
- Palais de la Marina
- University of Ouagadougou
- University of Abomey-Calavi
- British Museum
- Charity Commission
- IMF
- World Bank
- City, University of London
- ArtReview
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Cotonou
- Benin
- Dakar
- Senegal
- Spain
- Burkina Faso
- Abomey
- Ouidah
- United Kingdom
- London