Amazon Statue, Cotonou

The Amazon Statue, unveiled in Cotonou in 2022, is a monumental bronze honouring the female warriors of the Kingdom of Dahomey known as the Dahomey Amazons. Rising some thirty metres, the figure of an armed woman celebrates the elite regiment that defended the pre-colonial state. The statue reflects Benin's efforts to reclaim and honour its royal history alongside a wider cultural revival. Standing on a prominent avenue, it has quickly become one of the most recognisable modern landmarks in the country.