The 26 royal treasure artefacts which France pledged to return to Benin in 2021 are expected to make their homecoming to Abomey, the former seat of the Danxomè kingdom, in about five years. To ensure the treasures are displayed in the best possible conditions, Benin's National Agency for the Development of Touristic Heritage is currently training 100 artisans on restoration techniques for royal palaces in the area, where the museum for the cultural artefacts will established. FRANCE 24 reports.
Ahead of the restitution of various masterpieces from French museums, the artisans at the Abomey vocational training centre are immersed in the construction of this royal reception hall, called an "adjalala" in the Fon language. The work, which began early this year, is led by the French Compagnons du Devoir, experts in ancestral trades. At this vocational training center, the Beninese artisans are discovering new methods.
