An official ceremony around Patrice Talon for the return of the royal treasures from Abomey

The throne of the Royal Treasures of Abomey, so far exhibited at the Quai Branly museum in Paris, is back in Benin.

AFP - CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

A real cultural treasure arrived in Cotonou this Wednesday, November 10, 2021. It had been stolen during French colonization, in the 19th century.

Since then, the works were in Paris.

They are now back on Benin soil.

It is a solemn day for the country.

A ceremony was organized.

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The ceremony is coming to an end in the grounds of the presidential palace of the Marina.

President Talon has spoken.

The return of the 26 works was celebrated with a whole set of artistic performances, dances performed by troupes from Abomey, Porto-Novo and northern Benin.

Before that, the national anthem had been performed by the children's choir of Benin.

► To reread: The works of art returned by France to Benin have arrived in Cotonou

The ceremony took place in front of an audience of personalities.

Around President Talon, there were ministers, kings of several kingdoms, several countries, as well as the president of the High Council of Kings.

Former presidents Thomas Boni Yayi and Nicéphore Soglo, who had been invited to the event, however, did not come.

First highlight of this ceremony: the arrival of the 26 works in three trucks.

The crate containing the throne of King Ghezo was very carefully taken out and placed on the red carpet facing the guests.

A sign of the importance of the event, this ceremony was broadcast live by national television.

► Also listen: Behind the scenes of the return of the 26 works of the royal treasures of Benin

Outside the palace, dozens of Beninese gathered at the start of the afternoon on the route that led the works from the airport to the Marina.

The pieces landed here in Cotonou as planned around 3 p.m.

These works of art will not be visible immediately.

They will first spend two months in their box, time to acclimatize to the change in temperature and humidity, before being exposed to the chair for three months.

But in the meantime, “ 

”, declared on the tarmac of the airport, after the arrival of the works, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Aurélien Agbénonci.

🇫🇷🇧🇯 The works returned by France must arrive this Wednesday, November 10 s in Cotonou where a ceremony is scheduled at the presidential palace.

►A Abomey, the city where these treasures were looted, is also preparing to celebrate their return.

🎧 Report @pedrofirtion #RFImatin 👇 pic.twitter.com/mGGSsODkVr

- RFI (@RFI) November 10, 2021

🎧 # Podcast🎧

To (re) listen to the show this morning, devoted to the first restitution of works of art in Benin, it's here 👇

here --- ► https://t.co/C1GCHsACY7

or on the Pure radio app 😉

- RFI Appels Actualité (@AppelsActu) November 10, 2021

► Also read: On the front page of the African press, a first step in the restitution of the treasures of Benin

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