By Ben Oramalugo
The history of Dahomey Kingdom ( Now Benin Republic ) is sufficiently familiar. Like the Sefawa dynasty of Bornu empire, Aladaxonus dynasty produced leaders that made Dahomey history interesting , complex and exciting. By 1620, a man called Do – Aklin established the Dahomey kingdom. Other notable leaders included Dukodome ( 1625 – 1649 ), Weghala ( 1650 – 1685 ), Akasa 11 ( 1685 – 1708 ), King Kpengla ( 1775 -1790 ), King Agonglo ( 1790- 1795 ), Gezo ( 1818 – 1858 ), Gelele ( 1858 – 1889 ). By 1708 , the Dahomey empire was at its apogee.
The history of Dahomey was more pronounced during the reign of King Agaja ( 1708 – 1940 ). He had the strongest army in West Africa,with a strength of about 24,000 in population. They needed the army to procure slaves which was the mainstay of the economy of the period.They also needed the army to defend their kingdom against the army of Oyo and Asante. Out of 24, 000 soldiers , 6000 were women soldiers called the Amazoon, the first in West Africa .The Amazon played a considerable part in the empire’s clashes with the Egbas during the early years of the second part of the 19th Century ( 1851 -1860 ). The army were uniformed in blue and white tunics with short trousers and caps which were decorated with regimental emblems.Their daily parades in the kingdom were delight to watch. It serves as intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for young ones , especially young women to join the army. Indeed, it was a disciplined army.
The role of Amazon women soldiers was more pronounced during the Dahomey – Egba war ( 1851 – 1864) , under King Agaja. The geography of Dahomey was delicate and precarious. It was located between the Savannah North ( Present day Burkina Fasso and Niger ) , the coastal state of Asante in the South and Oyo , Badagry in the South. The northern boundary was not fertile . It was a den where slaves were captured for European market. The eastern neighbours of Egbado , Egba and Badagry had fertile land but with an aggressive strong army that was ready to devour invaders. They also controlled the slave trade and later legitimate trade with Europeans at the port of Badagry. In order to have a control of fertile land of the East and partake in the lucrative trade in Slaves , palm oil, cocoa etc with the Europeans , war was inevitable.
As expected, Dahomey attacked Egba in 1851 but was defeated. However, Dahomey was not disgraced. The army dominated by the Amazons put up a spectacular performance. Dahomey was defeated due to the support of the Europeans that supplied quantum of arms to the Egba. Also , the support of Ijebus of Isara and Ibadan to the Egbas , gave them edge over the Dahomeans.
Though Dahomey was defeated , there was a mutual agreement for the semi – autonomy of Dahomey army to be maintained . The structure and administration of Dahomian army was left intact in the hands of Dahomian
kings. This is a colossal lesson for leaders of Contemporary Nigeria and Benin to imbibe. Every conflict , tension between the two countries must always be resolved at the conference table.
Back to the Amazon.When Afonja ignited a rebellion that Shook Oyo, there was tension and confusion. It was this political vacuum that King Gelele exploited and gained independence from Oyo. Again , the great Amazons played a formidable role in liberating the People of Dahomey from the Egbas and that gave them unfettered access to the glorious trade of Badagry.
Therefore, it should be argued that the Amazon statue erected at the heart of Cotonou town in Benin Republic is a huge historical masterpiece. It resonates the strength of African woman , the resilience of Pre – colonial West African Army . It was amazing that as far back as middle of 19th century , Dahomey had an army that was equipped , funded astronomically , with gender sensitive acumen that made Europeans to describe Dahomian Army as the ” Spartans of Africa “. The historical and noble roles of the Amazons confirms what Prof Chinweizu argued in his book ” Anatomy of Female Power ” that man is the head but the woman is the neck that carries and sustains the head. Indeed , the Amazons were the necks of Dahomian empire ( Now Benin Republic ).
*Dr Oramalugo is an expert in History, International politics, Diplomacy and strategic studies. Presently , the Controller of Seme Customs.*
