A vital look at the restitution of stolen African artworks, Dahomey interrogates colonialism and culture through the voices of the objects themselves.
In 2021, twenty-six stunning objects—from elegant statues to elaborate thrones—from the kingdom of Dahomey were returned by French authorities to present-day Benin. Along with thousands of others, these artifacts were plundered by French colonial troops in the late 19th century. By giving voice to these treasures, Diop asks: How should these artworks, stolen from ancestors, be received in a country that has reinvented itself in their absence? This eccentric and invigorating film won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, making Diop the first Black woman to win the award. In English, Fon, and French with English Subtitles. (67 mins., DCP)
