Benin: France commits to the restoration of royal palaces and the construction of a museum
The Museum of the Epic of the Amazons and the Kings of Dahomey will rise from the ground, still in Abomey, to accommodate the 26 works (our photo) looted from the royal palace of King Gbèhanzin in 1892. REUTERS / Philippe Wojazer
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The French Development Agency (AFD) will provide 35 million euros, or nearly 23 billion CFA francs, for the rehabilitation of the famous royal palaces of Abomey and for the construction of a new museum to international standards planned for welcome the 26 works that France is preparing to return to Benin at the end of 2021.
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With our correspondent in Cotonou,
Jean-Luc Aplogan
Of the 35 million euros of fresh money injected by the French Development Agency, there are 10 million donations and a loan of 25 million at preferential rates.
This money will fund two things: about a third will be spent on training and commissioning.
The rest will be used for the rehabilitation of the palaces of the kings Ghezo, Glele Gbehanzin, Agoli-Agbo.
All from Abomey, they ruled in the 18th and 19th century.
These four palaces are quite degraded, recognizes Alain Godonou, director of the “Museums” program at the Beninese National Agency for the Promotion of Heritage and Tourism Development (ANPT).
A new museum to accommodate the 26 works returned by France
In addition to this restoration, the museum of the epic of the Amazons and the kings of Dahomey will rise from the ground, still in Abomey.
A new museum with international standards.
It is there that
the 26 works looted
from the royal palace of King Gbèhanzin in 1892 will land after a temporary exhibition at the Portuguese fort of Ouidah.
►Also listen: Restitution of works: "I am struck by the ambition and the seriousness of Benin in this affair"
Mixed teams are working on the project.
In addition to Beninese experts, there is a French expert in residence, French scenography and museography firms.
The two architects in charge of the work, a Beninese and a Franco-Cameroonian, promise delivery by 2023. There may be a small extension because the palaces to be rehabilitated are classified as World Heritage by Unesco, which implies some constraints, say the specialists.
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