dahomey

a film by Mati Diop • in cinemas on 25 September 2024 • 1h08

With

Les intervenants de l’Université d’Abomey-Calavi : IMELDA BATAMOUSSI, DIANE CAKPO, CHAMELIE DOGNON, MORIAS AGBESSI, GILBERT GODOVO, GILDAS ADANNOU, JOSEA GUEDJE, GAËL DAAVO, ROSE OUEMEHO, HABIB AHANDESSI, MARYLINE AGBOSSI, DIDIER SEDOHA NASSANGADE, RAÏMI BASSITOU NOUATIN, JOËL TCHOGBE, EDAH GONTRAN, DONALD GBOSSA, YVON KOSSOU-YOVO, DONALD GBOSSA, EDAH GONTRAN, MESSI BOCO, ODILON GBENONTIN, KEVIN DA-SILVA, DOWOTI DESIR, MICHELINE AYINON, BICAREL GNIKPO, NADIA VIHOUTOU KPONADOU L’équipe des conservateurs et régisseurs de l’exposition : CALIXTE BIAH, ABDOULAYE IMOROU, PAUL TIMOTHEE DOTO, JULES BOCCO, RICHARD J. V. SOGAN, DIDIER DONATIEN ALIHONOU et le commissaire de l’exposition ALAIN GODONOU et Les étudiants de l’INMAAC (promotions 2019 - 2020)

Synopsis

November, 2021. Twenty-six royal treasures of the Kingdom of Dahomey are about to leave Paris to return to their country of origin, the present-day Republic of Benin. Along with thousands of others, these artifacts were plundered by French colonial troops in 1892. But what attitude to adopt to these ancestors’ homecoming in a country that had to forge ahead in their absence? While the soul of the artifacts is freed, debate rages among students of the University of Abomey-Calavi.

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Awards

Ours d’Or — Festival de Berlin 2024

Credits

Screenplay: Mati Diop
Cinematography: Joséphine Drouin Viallard
Editing: Gabriel Gonzalez
Sound: Nicolas Becker, Corneille Houssou, Cyril Holtz
Music: Dean Blunt, Wally Badarou
Produced by: Eve Robin, Judith Lou Levy - Les Films du Bal / Mati Diop - Fanta Sy
Co-produced by: Arte France Cinéma
With the participation of: Gouvernement de la République du Bénin, Centre National du Cinéma et de L’image Animée, La Région Île de France, Fopica - Fonds de Promotion de L’industrie Cinématographique et Audiovisuelle du Sénégal
With the support of: Arte France
French distribution: Les Films du Losange
International sales: Les Films du Losange