Dahomey

This dramatized documentary examines the repatriation of 26 royal artifacts from the Kingdom of Dahomey to modern-day Benin. These treasures were looted by French colonial forces in 1892 and held in Paris for over a century. The film explores the emotional and political impact of their return through the perspectives of art historians and students at the University of Abomey Calavi, while one of the statues provides its own narrative voice.

The film was written and directed by Mati Diop, following her previous work on Atlantics in 2019 and Naked Blue in 2022. A joint production between Senegal and France, the project involved production companies ARTE France Cinéma, Les Films du Bal, and Fanta Sy. The cast includes 47 credited individuals, featuring voice work by Lucrèce Hougbelo, Parfait Vaiayinon, Didier Sedoha Nassangade, and Sabine Badjogoumin, alongside appearances by Dowoti Desir and Micheline Ayinon.

Released on September 11, 2024, with a runtime of 68 minutes, the film has received a generally positive response from viewers. It holds a rating of 6.7/10 on IMDb based on 3,300 votes and a 6.5/10 on TMDB from 76 votes.