French Dahomey

French Dahomey was a French colony and part of French West Africa from 1894 to 1958.[1] After World War II, by the establishment of the French Fourth Republic in 1947, Dahomey became part of the French Union with an increased autonomy. On 11 December 1958, the French Fifth Republic was established and the French Union became the French Community. The colony became the self-governing Republic of Dahomey within the Community, and two years later on 1 August 1960, it gained full independence (and in 1975 changed its name to Benin).

Colony of Dahomey and Dependencies Colonie du Dahomey et dépendances
1894–1958
Flag
Anthem: La Marseillaise
Dark green: French Dahomey Lime: Rest of French West Africa Dark gray: Other French possessions Darkest gray: French Republic
Status	French colony
Capital	Porto-Novo
Common languages	French (official) Bariba, Fon, Yoruba
History
• Colonised	1872
• French West Africa	1894
• French Union	4 September 1947
• French Community	11 December 1958
• Independence	1 August 1960
Currency	French West African franc CFA franc
Preceded by Succeeded by Kingdom of Dahomey Republic of Dahomey
Today part of	Benin

History

Kingdom of Dahomey

During the 13th century, the indigenous Yoruba people of the west Niger area were run by a group of local chieftains,[2] but by the 17th century a single ruler known as the 'oba' had asserted control, creating the Kingdom of Dahomey. Under the dynasty established by Ewuare the Great, the most famous of the obas, Dahomey's territory expanded to cover a region between the Niger River delta and what is now the Nigerian city of Lagos. The obas brought great prosperity and a highly organized state to Benin. They also established good relations and an extensive slave trade with the Portuguese and Dutch who arrived from the 15th century onwards.

The decline of the obas began in the 18th century when a series of internal power struggles began which lasted into the 19th century.

Colony

The French takeover and colonization of the Kingdom of Dahomey began in 1872. The First Franco-Dahomean War in 1890 further weakened it. The Second Franco-Dahomean War resulted in it becoming a French protectorate in 1894.[3]

A decree dated 22 June 1894 created the Colonie du Dahomey et dépendances (Colony of Dahomey and Dependencies), which was to be incorporated into French West Africa in 1904.[2]

Under the French, a port was constructed at Cotonou, and railroads were built. School facilities were expanded by Roman Catholic missions. In 1946, Dahomey became an overseas territory with its own parliament and representation in the French national assembly.[4]

On 4 December 1958, it became the Republic of Dahomey (République du Dahomey), self-governing within the French Union.

Independence

On 1 August 1960, the Republic of Dahomey gained full independence from France.

The republic's first president was Hubert Maga, who had been the Prime Minister during the overseas territory's last year under French rule.[5]

See also

• List of the colonial governors of French Dahomey
• Kingdom of Dahomey (1600−1904)
• French West Africa

References

1. Mills, Ian (13 September 2017). "French Colonies - Benin (formerly Dahomey)". www.discoverfrance.net. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
2. "HISTORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BENIN". www.historyworld.net. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
3. "French Colonial Conquest of Dahomey in 1892 | HistoryNet". www.historynet.com. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
4. "The History of the Kingdom of Dahomey - Black History Month 2017". Black History Month 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
5. kästle, klaus. "History of Benin (formerly Dahomey)". www.nationsonline.org. Retrieved 13 September 2017.

Further reading

• Chafer, Tony (2002). The End of Empire in French West Africa: France's Successful Decolonization. Berg. ISBN 1-85973-557-6.