La Porte du Non Retour (Ouidah, Republic of Benin)
Dublin Core
Title
Subject
Republic of Benin--Ouidah
Slave markets
Slave ships
Slavery--Benin
Transatlantic slave trade
Commemorative sculpture
Memorial Arches
Description
Located on the sandy shores of Ouidah, Benin, the monumental concrete painted red and yellow and the metal sculptures that flank it, commemorate the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade. The memorial gate, which marks the point where African captives were forced onto transatlantic slave ships, is connected by a path, known as the “Slave Route,” to the market square, where enslaved people were once sold. The memorial arch is embellished with a frieze, depicting two lines of enslaved people bound at their hands and chained together as they walk towards waiting ships. The columns are adorned with sculptures depicting men and women captives, Their extremities bound, as they kneel and await their fate in Portuguese-built forts. The back of the gate is adorned with depictions of their native towns. Yves Ahouangnimon was the architect for the project; Fortuné Bandiera created figures and bas reliefs on the columns; Yves Apollinaire Pèdé created the bas-reliefs on the center arch and two free-standing egungun; and Dominique Kouas created the copper statues.
Creator
Source
Date
Contributor
Rights
Format
Language
Type
Coverage
Has Part
Ce Monument Commemoratif
A Ete Inauguree Le 30-11-95
Par Son Excellence
Le President Nicephore Dieudonne Soglo
Et Le Directeur General De L'UNESCO
Monsieur Federico Mayor
A L'Occasion De La Celebration De L'Annee 1995
Comme L' Annee Internationale De La Tolerance
English translation:
This Memorial
Was Inaugurated On November 30, 1995
By His Excellency
President Nicephore Dieudonne Soglo
And The Director-General Of UNESCO
Mr. Federico Mayor
On The Occasion Of The Celebration
Of The Year 1995
As The International Year Of Tolerance
LA PORTE du NON retour
--Ses Figurines et ses bas-relief en colonnes
d'esclaves a été conue et réalisée
par Fortuné Bandeira
--L'agencament ou terrassement
par l'Architect Ahouangnimon Yves
--Les Statues en cuivre rouge
par Gnonnou Dominique Kouass
--Les bas-relief du mur de ceinture et
les deux Statues répresentant des
Egun-Egun (Esprit des esclaves)
par Yves Kpede
-Sous la présidence du Ministre d'Etat
Désiré Vieyra
et la coordination de
Mr. Noureini Tidjani-Serpos
English translation:
THE GATE OF NO RETURN
--Its figurines and bas-reliefs on columns
of slaves were designed and created
by Fortuné Bandeira
--The layout and earthworks
by architect Ahouangnimon Yves
--The red copper statues
by Gnonnou Dominique Kouass
--The bas-reliefs on the surrounding wall and
the two statues representing
Egun-Egun (spirits of slaves)
by Yves Kpede
-Under the chairmanship of Minister of State
Désiré Vieyra
and the coordination of
Mr. Noureini Tidjani-Serpos