Feasibility study for the preservation and development of the heritage site of Abomey

Contributing to structuring the cultural and heritage policy in Benin

Culture and tourism, key sectors to promote Benin

The Government of Benin has devised a strategy to make tourism a wealth and job-creating industry for economic development and a tool to promote Benin regionally and internationally. The National Agency for the Promotion of Heritage and Tourism Development (ANPT) was set up in 2016 with a mandate to realise the Government’s vision for the promotion of heritage and development of tourism.

The project to create the Museum of the Epic of Danhomè's Amazons and Kings and develop the site of the royal palaces of Abomey is part of this strategy. Funded by AFD and implemented by Expertise France, it is also part of the process for the restitution of African cultural heritage initiated by the French President, Emmanuel Macron. For example, the President wants to return to the Republic of Benin the 26 works taken from the Palace of Abomey in 1892 by Colonel Dodds. These works could subsequently be housed in the future Museum of the Epic of Danhomè's Amazons and Kings.

Preserving the royal palaces of Abomey

The site of the royal palaces of Abomey has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985 and provides tangible evidence of the Kingdom of Dahomey which developed starting in the mid-17th century. From 1625 to 1900, twelve kings succeeded each other and built the ten palaces which form this monumental ensemble of great heritage and architectural value.

Since November 2019, Expertise France has been coordinating the preliminary technical diagnostics for the preparation of a project to ensure the sustainable conservation of this exceptional site, develop the museum’s collections and improve the attractiveness of Abomey to tourists.

The studies are based on four areas:

- Assistance to the contracting authority at the ANPT to manage missions for the architectural, museographical and scenographic design entrusted to three prime contractors;

- Preparation of the future technical assistance programme for the implementation of the scientific and cultural project for the site, the management/governance model for the museum/site ensemble, the training plan for the future teams and the economic model;

- Preparation of the future capacity building mechanisms for Beninese stakeholders in the heritage and craft trade sectors;

- Social, environmental and archaeological impact assessments.

Schedule and prospects for the feasibility study

The studies for this project are being conducted in partnership with the French Ministry of Culture and the Ministry’s key operators: the Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac Museum, the Mucem and the Réunion des Musées Nationaux et du Grand Palais (RMN-GP).

The final deliverable will be submitted in the autumn of 2020. It will consist of a project document that will allow AFD to continue the appraisal process for the operational phase of this project for which the total amount is estimated at EUR 35m (works and technical assistance programme).

This project could start in 2021 and Expertise France would be able to continue its action under the implementation partnerships.