In my salad days, collectors of foreign stamps, which included this reviewer, often specialised on what were described as French colonials. Numbered among these was Dahomey, now known as the Republic of Benin. The country is not well‐off in resources, though it is one of the most heavily populated in West Africa, and is home to more than 40 ethnic groups, the largest of which is the Fon tribe. The capital of Benin is now Porto Novo, though that of the former Dahomey was Abomey, the locale of this book.
The volume is the result of collaboration between the Getty Conservation Institute and the Benin Ministry of Culture, and of the two authors who have produced it, Francesca Pique is a conservation specialist at the Getty Institute and Leslie H. Rainer is a conservation consultant. Three other contributors receive credits. The introduction informs us that Fon culture was essentially oral, stories and the visual arts being used to transmit its history from generation to generation. “As part of this oral tradition”, the introduction goes on, “the walls of the kingdom’s palaces were decorated with colourful low‐relief sculptures or bas‐reliefs ‐ pictograms that recounted legends, commemorated battles and generally glorified the Dahomey royal dynasty”.
This beautifully produced book is devoted to giving us illustrations of many of these sculptures and bas‐reliefs. Of the 155 illustrations, no fewer than 142 are in colour, and they present a remarkable sequence. Set in niches in the walls of the dynasty’s palaces, many of the sculptures are grotesque to western eyes, and they demonstrate little or no artistic development over the years. The presenters include a section on reading the walls, and this is followed by one on the efforts which have been made to conserve the bas‐reliefs. This section is illustrated by contemporary photographs showing Africans taking part in training sessions, making mortar mixes, coping with transport difficulties, and other activities connecting with the conservation processes. Then there is a description of the Historic Museum of Abomey, which was opened in 1945, but has been greatly developed since then, thanks to the conservation work sponsored by the Getty Institute. It is open to the public and is well‐patronised. On p. 98 of this book will be found a plan of the Historic Museum.
The authors have succeeded in presenting a well‐thought‐out treatment of a subject on which little has been written, so both they and the publishers deserve thanks for this welcome and colourful book.
