Arts + Culture
Ere ibeji: the Yoruba twin figures carved to honour a lost child
The Yoruba have one of the highest rates of twin births in the world. When a twin died,…
Benin
Arts + Culture
The Royal Palaces of Abomey: the bas-reliefs of the Dahomey kings
The Royal Palaces of Abomey in Benin were the seat of the kings of Dahomey from the seventeenth…
Arts + Culture
Gelede: the Yoruba masquerade that honours the power of mothers
Gelede is a masquerade of the Yoruba and Yoruba-Nago peoples of Benin, Nigeria and Togo that honours mothers,…
Music
Benin’s funkiest band was rediscovered by record collectors: Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou was founded in 1968 by Mélomé Clément in Cotonou, Benin. Mixing vodun rhythms with…
Arts + Culture
Five Grammys, four in one category: Angélique Kidjo’s record in global music
Angélique Kidjo has won five Grammy Awards, four of them for Best Global Music Album, more than any…