Monument Amazone, Bronze monument in Cotonou, Benin.
Monument Amazone is a bronze sculpture on the Amazone Esplanade showing a warrior with raised weapons atop an earthen mound. The figure reaches a height of roughly 30 meters (98 feet) and shapes the cityscape near the Atlantic.
The statue was erected in 2017 to recall the Dahomey warrior troops who defended the Kingdom of Danxome until the end of the 19th century. Chinese sculptor Li Xiangqun designed the work as a symbol of Benin's strength and independence.
The sculpture honors the warriors of Dahomey, a female army known for their courage whose descendants still live in Benin today. Visitors often see locals taking photos at the base of the figure or posing beside the bronze pedestal for remembrance.
The esplanade sits in the 12th district between Marina Boulevard and the coast, opposite Independence Square and the Presidential Palace. Visitors can see the monument from many points along the waterfront promenade, and the open space invites a walk around.
The metal structure weighs around 150 tons and ranks among the largest statues in all of Africa. The work was manufactured in China and then shipped by sea to Benin.
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