Dahomey
dir. Mati Diop · 2024
The struggle to reclaim lost cultural heritage highlights the enduring connection between identity and history in the human experience.
A group of cultural historians and university students gather to discuss the return of 26 royal artifacts from Dahomey, each with its own story of loss and reclamation. As they navigate the complexities of identity and heritage, the film immerses viewers in a contemplative exploration of what it means to reclaim a past that was forcibly taken.
Thousands of royal artifacts of Dahomey, a West African kingdom, were taken by French colonists in the 19th century for collection and display in Paris. Centuries later, a fraction returned to their home in modern-day Benin. This dramatized documentary follows the journey of 26 of the treasures as told by cultural art historians, embattled university students, and one of the repatriated statues himself.
Talking points
- the impact of colonialism on cultural identity
- the role of artifacts in storytelling
- the significance of repatriation
- the intersection of academia and activism
