Resist with dignity: The final speech of King Béhanzin

The last speech of King Béhanzin is a cry of honor and resistance against French imperialism, an eternal lesson in dignity and courage.

A Cry of honor against colonial invasion

On January 20, 1894, King Béhanzin of Abomey delivered a poignant speech that marked a turning point in the history of Dahomey, now known as Benin. This speech was made in a dramatic context: for several years, the kingdom had been fighting against the invasion of French troops led by General Alfred Dodds¹. Facing a better-equipped and larger army, the Dahomean forces, composed of soldiers and the famed Amazons, were gradually defeated.

Béhanzin, a charismatic monarch and staunch defender of his people’s independence, found himself in an untenable position. Rather than surrender without honor, he chose to deliver this farewell speech, a tribute to his warriors and an act of supreme dignity. This powerful text resonates as an echo of African resistance to colonialism and a lesson in courage in the face of adversity.

The speech of King Béhanzin

In his address, King Béhanzin does not merely lament the losses. He celebrates the bravery of his army and the greatness of the sacrifices made by his people. This speech is an elegy, a farewell song, and a pledge of fidelity to the memory of the ancestors. Béhanzin demonstrates a heartrending humanity while transmitting a message of hope and resilience. Below is the complete text of this ultimate speech:

Companions in misfortune, last faithful friends, you know under what circumstances, when the French came to seize the land of our ancestors, we decided to fight.

Our warriors rose by the thousands to defend Dahomey and its King.

With pride, we recognized in them the same bravery shown by the warriors of Agadja², Tegbessou³, Guézo⁴, and Glèlè⁵. In every battle, I stood beside them, and we were certain of marching to victory. Yet, despite the righteousness of our cause and their valor, our compact forces were decimated.

And now, my mournful voice echoes no more.

Where are they, the fiery Amazons inflamed by sacred fury?

Where are their indomitable leaders: Goundémè, Yéwè, Kétungan?

Where are my valiant comrades in arms?

Where are their stalwart captains: Godogbé, Chachabloukou, and Godjila?

Who will sing of their heroic sacrifices? Who will tell of their generosity?

Brave warriors, with your blood, you have sealed the pact of supreme fidelity.

Would I dare face you if I signed the general’s paper?

I do not wish to stand at the gates of the land of the dead with stains on my feet.

When I see you again, I want my belly to open with joy.

That is why I will no longer turn my back on my destiny. I will face it and walk forward. For the greatest victory is not won over an enemy army or against adversaries silenced by the prison’s gloom. The truly victorious man is the one who, standing alone, continues to fight in his heart.

Now, who am I for my disappearance to leave a void on this earth?

Who am I for my disappearance to leave a void on this earth?

Let happen to me what God wills!

Go forth! You too, last living friends.

Return to Abomey where the new masters promise a gentle alliance, safe lives, and, so they say, freedom.

There, they say joy is already reborn.

There, they claim the whites will be as favorable to you as the rain draping the flamboyant trees in red velvet or the sun gilding the silky beards of corn.

To the departed companions, unknown heroes of a tragic epic, here is the offering of memory: a little oil, a little flour, and the blood of a bull.

Here is the renewed pact before the great departure.

Farewell, soldiers, farewell!

Guédébé… Stand tall, as I do, as a free man. Since the blood of fallen soldiers guarantees the resurrection of Dahomey, no more blood should be shed. The ancestors no longer need our sacrifices. They will better savor the pure homage of these loyal hearts united for the greatness of the homeland.

This is why I accept to embark on the long night of patience where the first light of dawn germinates.

Guédébé, as the messenger of peace, go to Goho, where General Dodds camps.

Tell the conqueror that he has not harpooned the shark.

Tell him that tomorrow, at dawn, I will willingly surrender at the village of Yégo.

Tell him that I accept, for the survival of my people, to meet in his land, as he promises, the president of the French.

Notes and references

1. General Alfred Dodds was a Franco-Senegalese officer born in 1842 and died in 1922. He is best known for leading French troops during the conquest of the Kingdom of Dahomey (now Benin) between 1892 and 1894. A career officer, Dodds played a central role in the French colonial expansion in West Africa, helping to establish French dominance over several territories. ↩︎
2. Agadja (1708–1740): King of Dahomey, Agadja is known for consolidating and expanding the kingdom. During his reign, he conquered Allada and Whydah (Ouidah), strategic centers of Atlantic trade, including the slave trade. He is often regarded as a military strategist who laid the foundations for Dahomey’s economic and military power by establishing complex relations with European powers while asserting his kingdom’s autonomy. ↩︎
3. Tegbessou (1740–1774): Successor to Agadja, Tegbessou strengthened Dahomey’s economy through trade in slaves and goods with Europeans. His reign is marked by increased centralization of royal power and a more structured organization of the army. He is also known for his role in establishing rituals linked to the monarchy, thus consolidating the cultural influence of the kingdom. ↩︎
4. Guézo (1818–1858): One of Dahomey’s most famous kings, Guézo modernized the kingdom’s army, notably reinforcing the corps of Amazons. He implemented a series of economic and social reforms, particularly in agriculture, to reduce dependency on the declining slave trade. His reign is often considered a golden age of Dahomey, characterized by a balance between military resistance and internal development. ↩︎
5. Glèlè (1858–1889): Son of Guézo, Glèlè continued his father’s expansionist and military policies. During his reign, tensions with European powers, especially France, increased due to colonial expansion. However, Glèlè maintained Dahomey’s independence until his death, preparing his son and successor, Béhanzin, to directly confront the colonial invasion. ↩︎