Historical Personalities & Issues
Compiled & Edited by Phillip True, Jr.
Chapter Twenty
Behanzin Hossu Bowelle "The King Shark" (1841-1906)
Behanzin Bowelle "The King Shark", was the most powerful of the West
African Kings in the last years of the 19th Century. Behanzin was the absolute
master of his kingdom. A nod of his head meant life or death for his subjects.
Not many were permitted to see him do even the most common things.
While marching, if he wanted a drink of water, a screen needed to be placed
over his face until he finished drinking. When the water was passed to him, the
soldiers would throw themselves on the ground and say "A-h-h-h", as
though they were also drinking. The saliva from Behanzin's mouth was not allowed
to touch the ground.
Behanzin's army, with rifles supplied by the Germans, were getting too strong
for neighboring French colonies. In 1890, Behanzin had defeated a French
expedition and made France pay for the use of Cotonou port. He declared a treaty
made with France by his father, Gli-Gli in 1868 null and void, from this war
began.
In 1894, Behanzin was defeated by Colonel A.A. Dodds, a Senegalese mulatto,
who was sent to fight against him with powerful French armed forces. Behanzin
was exiled to Martinique. Behanzin died in 1906 in Algeria. In 1928, his son had
his body moved to Dahomey.
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