Porto-Novo. Histoire urbaine d’une ville vodun, 1724-1874

The Thesis retrace the urban history of Porto-Novo, the official capital of the Republic of Benin, on the period between 1724, the supposed date of foundation, and 1874, the year of the ascension to the throne of the last sovereign of Porto-Novo, King Toffa, during whose reign the country was progressively incorporated into the French colony of Dahomey (1894-1960). The objective of this work is threefold. First, it seeks to provide a chronological reconstruction of this city’s urban and social evolution through an historical and anthropological methodological approach, based on combining written sources available in African and European archives, with an extensive use of oral sources collected during fieldwork. Secondly, it aims to analyse the role of the vodun religion in the historical and political evolution of the city. Kinship groups, during their regional migrations as well as their internal movements within Porto-Novo’s urban space, carried with them their vodun deities, which they implanted in their new place of residence. The old neighbourhoods are therefore closely linked to the presence of these deities, which act as spatial markers and symbolise the unity of family groups. Through the survey and mapping of vodun temples and the analysis of family tales, the work reconstructs the origins and movements of these groups and these gods; places their histories into a chronological framework; and analyses the system of political and military relations that enabled their settlement in urban fabric. Thirdly, it aims to investigate the political and social organisation of ancient Porto-Novo. The city has been described in 19th and 20th-century literature as a centralised monarchy, following the model of the neighbouring kingdom of Dahomey. This definition, however, does not adequately reflect the complexity of the forms of power that characterised Porto-Novo in ancient times. This study seeks to highlight the different counter-powers that opposed the sovereign’s authority, offering a more fragmented and mutable picture of governance, at least until the mid-19th century. These considerations allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the intricate network of regional and global relationships in which Porto-Novo was embedded: the role of the Atlantic slave trade, the activities of missionaries in the second half of the 19th century, and the definition of the city as a bridgehead for the French colonial project in the region. This work aims to provide a narration based on the perspective of local actors and try to expose the role played by different social groups in shaping Porto-Novo’s urban identity. Finally, it seeks to offer a critical reading of the historical narrative of this place, challenging colonial and post-colonial representations of the city. By combining historical and ethnographic approaches, this study offers a dynamic view of the city's past, emphasizing the complex interaction of local, regional, and global influences in its long-term urban development.