Dahomey

 

Written and directed by Mati Diop, Dahomey is a documentary film about 26 royal treasures from the Kingdom of Dahomey that are held in a museum in France as a portion of these 7000 treasures are returned to Benin. The film is a study of colonialism as well as the artifacts that are collected as they are told from the perspective of the artifacts voiced by Makenzy Orcel. The result is a tremendously riveting film by Mati Diop.

In 1892 during a colonial conflict between France and the Kingdom of Dahomey, 7000 artifacts were taken from the French as they would be put in museums with the Musee du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac being the most notable of these museums to display these artifacts. For over a century, these artifacts would be in display in these museums until November of 2021 when 26 of these artifacts from the Kingdom of Dahomey would be returned to the country of Benin in an act of reparation. Mati Diop creates a film about the return of 26 of these artifacts though the remaining artifacts that the French took during a period of colonialism have set to be returned as many believed this act is the first step of France atoning for their sins. Shot from November of 2021 to February of 2022, Diop explores the 26 artifacts that include statues of Dahomey’s two kings in Glele and Behanzin.

With Makenzy Orcel being the voice of these two statues and other artifacts, Diop chooses to film things from the perspective of these statues as they deal with returning home but also the world around them. Even as they return to a world that has changed some things have not changed as if there is an air of familiarity around them. Upon their arrival at Benin where newspapers are calling this event historical as there is a national sense of pride for the country. Not everyone is happy about this return as students at University of Abomey-Calvai debate about the return of the artifacts. Some believe this is a positive first step of France atoning for their actions as well as the chance for more artifacts to come. Even as a filmmaker believes that the return of these treasures could do more for the people of Benin as they would speak their native language of Fon instead of French. Others feel this is a political stunt for the leaders of Benin and France while wondering why more artifacts have not been returned and only 26 so far.

Diop also displays the location where the artifacts are held and shown to the public at the museum at Abomey where they are first shown to dignitaries and political officials first and later the public at large. Yet, students at the university feel like it would not be enough for those who live in villages and might not have the funding to see these artifacts. Diop’s direction does use a lot of surveillance footage in the museums in France and Benin while also placing cameras inside these crate boxes where the artifacts are put upon traveling. With the aid of cinematographer Josephine Drouin-Viallard, Diop captures the city of Abomey as well as its museum just as it was being restored. She also captures areas in the city on the day and at night as there is an entrancing quality to what she and Drouin-Viallard capture as the people continue with their daily lives but there is also this sense of hope that is happening now that these artifacts have returned to their homeland.

With the help of editor Gabriel Gonzalez, Diop also maintains a steady pace to the film with its 68-minute running time as well as aiming for cuts that are straightforward with a few montages in some parts of the film as she also knows when to keep the camera steady. Sound designer Nicolas Becker also helps with the sound in capturing the atmosphere of a museum or a room when it is silent as well as the sounds of a city from the outside of the museum. The film’s music by Wally Badarou and Dean Blunt is incredible for its hypnotic electronic music score with elements of synthesizers and ambient textures along with a music piece by Actress that has elements of African tribal chants as it plays into this sense of calm but also loss considering how long these artifacts have been away from their homeland.

Dahomey is a spectacular film by Mati Diop. It is a documentary film that explores a key event in Benin’s history as it reclaims a lost part of its identity and heritage while also exploring the many fallacies of colonialism. Notably as it is a film that has people not only deal with the ruins of colonialism but also wonder if they can move on despite the troubled history that led to the death of the Kingdom of Dahomey. In the end, Dahomey is a magnificent film by Mati Diop.

Atlantics

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