Still from Dahomey (2024), by Mati Diop.
Still from Dahomey (2024), by Mati Diop.
Dahomey
2:30 pm–3:45 pm
Directed by Mati Diop (France and Senegal, 2024, 68 min.). French with English subtitles.
In 2021, 26 royal treasures from the Kingdom of Dahomey were returned to Benin, marking a significant moment after more than a century of being held in France. This documentary blends fact and fiction to tell the story of these artifacts, taken during the colonial era and displayed at Paris’s Musée du Quai Branly. Now housed in a museum in Abomey, their return prompts reflections on cultural heritage and loss. The film features Beninese students critiquing the return of only 26 out of 7,000 objects. A statue of King Ghezo, voiced by Haitian writer Makenzy Orcel, shares its memories of exile and homecoming.
Winner of the Golden Bear for Best Film at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival.
Wheelchair accessible
With English subtitles
Ticket Information
To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-440-6975 ($6 processing fee applies); to order in person, visit any MFA ticket desk.
Bag Checks
All bags are subject to inspection by Museum staff. Backpacks, large bags, all liquids including hand sanitizer and sunscreen, and outside food or drink are not permitted. Exceptions are made for medical or religious needs. All bags are strongly discouraged, and any bags larger than 11” x 15” must be checked in the Coat Room upon entry. Read our full bag check policy.