A kingdom in west Africa once known for its distinctly carved artworks as well as being the birthplace of the voodoo religion was also key a hub for the Atlantic slave trade.
Dahomey existed for centuries from around 1600 through to the first few years of the 20th century and was centred in modern-day Benin.
The military-minded empire would capture inhabitants, either through raids or wars, and annually sell slaves to Europeans in exchange for goods such as guns, textiles and alcohol.
