Benin: Monuments from slave trade era restored in Ouidah city

As anti-racism protests in the United States and Europe grew, so did demands for the removal of statues linked to slavery.
Protesters toppled and vandalised some, others were removed by city leaders.
But a coastal city in Benin in West Africa is going the other way - restoring monuments from the slave trade era.
It is part of a billion-dollar development project aimed at promoting tourism and confronting its role in the slave trade.
Al Jazeera's Raheela Mahomed has more.
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[@joshuatimothy2966]

“It's vital to acknowledge the past” Agreed No mater how bad it was

[@darylatkinson8802]

Only way to not repeat history.

[@bryanbradley6871]

Al Jazeera won't acknowledge the 1400 years of the Arab slave trade which enslaved over 20 million black people

[@a2a918]

The only way to right the past is to compensate the people who suffered just like the European Jews and native Americans

[@Ayee1998]

How can a reputable News Channel like Al Jazeera network make such a mistake, Benin City is an ancient city in Southern Nigeria and it's Capital of Edo state. This story is about a town in Benin Republic a small francophone country bordering Western part Nigeria.

[@secondexodus9105]

In 1876 a French geographer named, Élisée Reclus also , wrote about the Kingdom of Juda in his book called, “The Earth and Its Inhabitants.” He wrote: “Known to Europeans by various names of Fida, Heredah, Whydah, Wida. The old writers called it Juda, and it’s inhabitants were said to be Jews.” Near the Kingdom of Juda was also the region known as Guinea. During the 1600’s, the English traveler John Ogilby, wrote about the coast of Guinea in Africa. He stated: “Many Jews also are scattered over this region; some Natives, boasting themselves of Abraham’s seed, inhabiting both sides of the river Niger”

[@wannabe_scholar82]

page number and chapter please?

[@secondexodus9105]

@@wannabe_scholar82 Source: A New Voyage to Guinea (William Smith) 1745 - pg. 193-194 I find that this country is called Fida by the Dutch, Juda by the French, and Whydah by the English, Portuguese, and Natives

[@wannabe_scholar82]

@@secondexodus9105 thank you

[@secondexodus9105]

@@wannabe_scholar82 you're welcome

[@cowboy2305]

Just bought off Amazon thank you!!!!

[@whailidris7335]

This is a cotonu Benin Republic not Benin city Nigeria do your homework before publishing please

[@Tobstar76]

"Benin City" is the capital of Edo State in Nigeria. This headline should read Ouida city in Republic of Benin, to avoid confusion. Thanks.

[@abiyahbenyasharel3545]

Ouidah means Judah, the people of Ouidah are the Jews.

[@dcarlos2901]

Deuteronomy 28 all day long.

[@latoyathomas9640]

JUDAH FOREVER!🦁🦁🦁

[@BoggWeasel]

The situations are different, the statues being removed are of "famous" or infamous heroes who fought in America's civil war on the side that wanted to keep slavery and to separate the USA into two countries. It's not changing the past, it's being corrected. Slavery will always be remembered in the US as long as we have the descendants who remind us of that great evil and the part it played in the history of our country. What is here is a memorial to all those people whose lives were changed forever, who would never see their homeland again, not a monument to a single slave owner or trader. It's wonderful.

[@latoyathomas9640]

GOD WILL MIRACULOUSLY BRING US BACK YOU'LL SEE!

[@thegreatnormad3424]

Those benefited from slavery must compensate enslaved people ancestors

[@nicocooo7557]

JD what handouts have white people given out lol

[@shadowingmirror4634]

You sell my people and expect us to forget who we really are we are the people sent to the 4 corners of the Earth script of our mothers language

[@ChimaAlaebo123]

This is in Benin Republic not Benin city in Southern Nigeria. Quite confusing

[@Bigk3695]

This was "the kingdom of Judah"

[@latoyathomas9640]

🦁🦁🦁🦁

[@latoyathomas9640]

Absolutely!APTTMH!

[@IvyResidence1-rr4wi]

Great report!

[@ken_9359]

To remember the past is to know your future.

[@secondexodus9105]

In the 1870’s, a French public research university called, the University of Montepellier, put out a book(below)on geography. The book talks about the Kingdom of Juda, stating, “Whydah (Fidah, Hwedah, Ouida, Judah, or Ajuda) is a old city frequented since the 16th century by the Portuguese slavers, who gave it its name. It’s inhabitants were said to be Judaic, “and they were indeed considered as a remnant of scattered tribes of Israel”

[@OluZhm12]

Truth👌

[@betterdays29]

The Slave Coast smh

[@nicocooo7557]

What do those symbols mean?

[@goo8295]

This Benin Republic, not Benin City (Nigeria). Smh

[@fivegoldstar6811]

Meanwhile Belgium and the Congo, nothing happened here.

[@mohamedali2858]

Who must pay for that insult ⁉️

[@BoggWeasel]

Pay? There were many and all dead. 360,000 men died on the Union side, the side that ended slavery in the USA, Can't give more than your life, is that not payment enough?

[@smoovcarter897]

Joel3:1 is your answer

[@latoyathomas9640]

JOEL 3&PS 83 KJV

[@teerell3820]

This sad af

[@VoIPPortland]

The Bible should be banned everywhere since it promotes slavery and even sets down rules. Colossians 4:1 Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. Exodus 21:2 When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing.Titus 2:9-10 Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

[@Jason861000]

Biblical slavery and what whites did to Africans called chattel slavery are two totally different things. Biblical it was more like working for someone to come up or if you owe a debt to pay it off and it wasn't inhumane like the trans Atlantic slave trade. They taught blacks were not even human. Total different

[@b6pablo]

The descendants of the trans atlantic slave trade are the real israelites of the bible. Slavery was a curse because they did not follow gods laws

[@mothertwinkles4198]

Hey, Afrocentrists! Tell them to give us our reparations! 😮

[@அவானிஉயர்ந்தது]

Yea, but you’re still speaking in French.

[@Hans.Dewitt]

And whats wrong with that

[@lastword8502]

@@Hans.Dewitt reminds them dark days, they should abolish it

[@CanoeToNewOrleans]

The people of West Africa speak literally hundreds of different languages. French is the common language that allows people with different mother tongues to speak with each other. I lived in the region back in 1999 and was told many times by locals that French is the one good thing about colonialism.

[@CanoeToNewOrleans]

@@lastword8502 The people in the news report said they want to remember the past.

[@CanoeToNewOrleans]

​@JD It's not clear to me that Africans want to maintain modern civilization. I didn't get that sense while living there. Many of them would rather maintain social connections.