THE kataklèa three-legged seat from the royal treasure of Abomey, which had disappeared but was found in Finland, will soon be ” return to Benin », Tells RFI the Beninese president’s heritage and museums manager. Alain Godonou gives details on this piece “ in very good condition » and which is at the heart of our podcast, “African Investigations”. Interview.
5 mins
The third season of the RFI podcast “ African surveys » has been available since November 4, 2024 on all platforms. “ The Mystery of the 27th Treasure » is interested in the 27th piece of the royal treasure of Abomey, an item which had disappeared and which was found in Finland thanks to the work carried out by Marie-Cécile Zinsouthe president of the Zinsou Foundation, and by Pilvi Vainonen, curator at the National Museum of Finland.
This room is a kataklèa three-legged royal seat. A first kataklè was already part of the 26 pieces returned by France to Benin in 2021. At the start of the week, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, the Beninese Minister of Foreign Affairs, went to Helsinki to discuss with his Finnish counterpart, Elina Valtonen, the return of this piece in Benin. And the restitution is validated, as explained to RFI by Alain Godonou, the Beninese president’s heritage and museum manager, who was able to see the object on Monday in Helsinki.
RFI: Alain Godonou, the principle of the restitution of kataklè in Benin is therefore established?
Alain Godonou: We saw the kataklè which is in very good condition. We have discussed, exchanged with Finnish colleagues and technically things are clear, to the point, and therefore the kataklè is ready to return to Benin.
When will he return? Are we talking about days, weeks, months?
Let’s say weeks and months. In any case, it’s ready, as I said, technically. Now, we have to see according to the calendar, in particular the Finnish officials, because they wish to make the trip to Benin. So, there is coordination of the different Beninese and Finnish agendas to succeed in finding the right date for the return of the kataklè in Benin.
How did you feel when you discovered this kataklè ?
It is always a very special moment of emotion when we discover an object such as this, which has nevertheless remained in Helsinki for almost 80 years.
Did you notice anything special about this piece?
Obviously, I left with a very precise image of the kataklè that we have in Benin among the 26 works [restituées par la France en 2021, NDLR]to be able to make the comparison straight away. It is obvious that it was a pair and precisely on this basis we asked the Finns for some additional analyzes to then be able to infer about the one we have already received.
What makes you say it’s a pair is because there are similar markings on both kataklè ?
Absolutely. There are similar brands and more than similar brands from a design and aesthetic point of view. And there are some perfectly similar traces in the same places.
Ultimately, this kataklè-there is brought to join the 26 other pieces and to be exhibited with them?
Objects, museum collections, are not always intended to be exhibited together. They can travel, for example, separately if they have to go to an exhibition somewhere, in the country or in the world. But it is certain that in the museography and the scenography which will follow, it is planned to exhibit this set: 26 plus one, now, in what will be the permanent exhibition of the Museum of the epic of the kings and of the Amazons of Danhome. This being said, I must emphasize that, in addition to these 26 already returned and the 27th work which will soon return to Cotonou, we have received in the meantime, as a donation, a pipe from King Béhanzin which has also joined the national collection . King Béhanzin [roi du Dahomey à la fin du XIXe siècle, NDLR]in all photos in Martinique and before, always has his long pipe in his hands. We received and authenticated one of these pipes which is now in the collection. And that was a donation from two Beninese people who found it.
Where did they find her? In Europe?
Absolutely. It’s in France, I think. It’s been a year since they gave it to the country by making a donation to the President of the Republic who actually put it back in the national collection.
All these pieces will be exhibited at the Abomey Museum. We see that there is a delay in the progress of the work. When will it see the light of day?
Let’s say that the work is underway. We must not forget that we had a long discussion with UNESCO for the choice of the site which will house the museum. We have been on a site classified as “World Heritage” since 1985 and certain precautions are required to build a new building on this site. The discussions have been definitively concluded, the various plans validated in Benin and by UNESCO. And then, you have to recruit a qualified company to carry out the project. It’s not a question of financial resources. You have to find the right company and we are here right now to find the right company to carry out this work. But everything is ready, I can assure you. We hope that the project will be completed in two years.
So, 2026?
Yes.
To find out more about the history of this seat, find “ The Mystery of the 27th Treasure », an RFI podcast in 4 episodes, to listen to on rfi.fr and on the RFI Pure Radio application.