The Historical Museum of Abomey

Set within the restored historical palace compounds of Kings Guézo (1818–1858) and Glèlè (1858–1889), the Historical Museum of Abomey houses one of the most significant royal court art collections in sub-Saharan Africa, documenting over two centuries of military and political sovereignty. Exhibited masterpieces include royal hand-carved thrones—notably King Guézo's war throne mounted upon the skulls of defeated rival chiefs—, royal récades (ceremonial sceptres carried by royal couriers bearing sovereign authority), weaponry of the Agodjié female warrior corps, and famous appliquéd cloth tapestries. The museum preserves the circular memorial tombs of both monarchs, reverently tended by royal priestesses, alongside historical archives documenting King Béhanzin's resistance against colonial troops during the Franco-Dahomean war of 1892–1894.