Why is it important to tell their story?
Women have endured a great deal throughout history, yet their perspective and stories are often left out with their roles being significantly reduced. History focuses on the male experience and perspective, with historical records centered around the successes, failures, actions, and decisions of men; very rarely are women the focus, and when they are included it is usually portrayed as a meager, and of less than moderate significance.
It is important to recognize that women, and the history of women are important, but with the way women have been perceived in the past, their importance has been treated as inferior which can be displayed in their restriction of freedoms in comparison to their male counterparts. But in the old city of Dahomey we have a compelling story about women who are evidence that women have made major contributions to the success of their cities, and created history.
It is important to recognize that women, and the history of women are important, but with the way women have been perceived in the past, their importance has been treated as inferior which can be displayed in their restriction of freedoms in comparison to their male counterparts. But in the old city of Dahomey we have a compelling story about women who are evidence that women have made major contributions to the success of their cities, and created history.
Present-day women of Benin are keeping the dance of the warrior women alive.
Dance of the Amazons outside the palace in Abomey, Kingdom of Dahomey. Fon peoples, Republic of Bénin. Photograph by Eliot Elisofon, 1971. Image no. EEPA EECL 4847. Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives. National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution