Ouidah Museum of History, History museum in Ouidah, Benin
The Ouidah Museum of History occupies the Portuguese Fort of São João Baptista de Ajudá, built in 1721 and located between Rue des Esclaves and Rue van Vollenhoven. Its 11 rooms, housed in the former residence of the Portuguese governor, display around 700 pieces covering the archaeology, arts and history of Ouidah, including objects from the Kingdom of Xwéda and the Kingdom of Dahomey.
The Portuguese built the fort in 1721 as a trading post on the coast. Following the decline of the slave trade, the structure was converted into a museum in 1967 to document this history.
The museum's 11 rooms hold objects tied to the Kingdom of Xwéda and the Kingdom of Dahomey, gathered since 1967 through donations and purchases from notable Ouidah families, foreign partners and archaeological digs. The collection also covers the slave trade and the repatriation of Africans from Brazil, and is housed in the former residence of the Portuguese governor.
The museum sits along Route des Esclaves and opens Monday through Saturday; allow several hours for a thorough visit. Guided tours are available to help visitors understand the exhibits in greater depth.
The fort was a fortified trading post until 1816, then a Catholic mission, and later the seat of Portuguese representation. In 1961 Dahomey annexed the enclave to mark independence, and the departing occupants set the buildings on fire before leaving.
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