Communication Afrique Destinations

CULTURE/ HISTORY: For consideration of research results in the field of cultural heritage: Case of the Bio Guerra monument

Bio Guera Statue
Bio Guera Statue

 “Researchers who seek, we find; researchers who find, we seek”; this Apocryphal quote from Charles de Gaulle seems to have become a school in our country where researchers are generally considered by decision-makers as not obtaining any concrete results. Consequently, they are not always consulted in the process that should lead to the taking of major decisions affecting the life of our nation. However, the research carried out in our universities leads to results that could be exploited in several cases. Those that particularly interest us relate to the construction of the Bio Guerra monument and that of the Amazon.

As part of the design and construction of the last three major monuments, the results of research carried out in 2008 could have been used to better present the monument dedicated to Hero Bio Guerra. Indeed, on the occasion of the realization of the mausoleum of Bio Guerra, a study carried out by the archaeologists made it possible to locate not only the archaeological sites which accommodated the episodes of the resistance of the hero, but also to inventory the material culture linked to his life. The investigation carried out in Guerra N'Kali (Municipality of Bembéréké) in the family of Bio Guerra on March 25, 2008 made it possible to access the ornaments of the horse of Bio Guerra, as well as its weapons and its clothes described in this study. They could have been taken into account for the realization of the monument.

In the collection that was presented to us, a feather headdress (figure 1) can be observed and served as a protective adornment for the Bio Guerra horse, probably for occult reasons because the oral tradition affirms that his horse flew at times. There is also a large cloth (figure 2) which was an adornment for Bio Guerra's mount to avoid slipping in the event of his horse sweating. The horse's stirrups are also well preserved (figure 3)

Figure 1 : la coiffe de protection du cheval de Bio Guerra
Bio Guerra's horse protection cap
Figure 2 : Etoffe parure de monture du cheval de Bio Guerra
Horse mount adornment fabric from Bio Guerra
Figure 3 : Les étriers du cheval de Bio Guerra
The stirrups of the Bio Guerra horse

The collection also presents his spear, which is more than 2 m long (figure 4). She also keeps a protective amulet (borka in baatonum) that Bio Guerra could wear around the hip or on the arm (figure 5).

The most important element that could have been taken into account in the realization of the majestic monument is his clothing. In the collection, we see his war tunic (Dansiki in baatonum figure 6). We also note his gong and a warthog tusk (figure 7) as well as a ponytail (figure 8).

Figure 4 : La lance de Bio Guerra
Figure 4 : Bio Guerra's spear
Figure 5 : amulette de protection de Bio Guerra
Figure 5 : Bio Guerra protection amulet
Figure 6 : Tunique de guerre de Bio Guerra
Figure 6 : Bio Guerra War Tunic
Figure 7 : Gong et défense de phacochère utilisés par Bio Guerra
Figure 7 : Gong and warthog tusk used by Bio Guerra
Figure 8 : Queue de cheval de Bio Guerra
Figure 8 : Bio Guerra Ponytail

All these elements are kept in a trunk well guarded by the family.

The results of this research clearly show that if university specialists as well as traditionalists in Baatonnu country had been associated, the monument would never present itself under the image of an American cowboy with boots and a hat that did not has nothing to do with the boo/baatonnu style which is the original culture of Bio Guerra.

At the level of the Amazon monument, the saber is not the one worn by the Amazons and, for Bio Guerra, the elements provided by this article show that it cannot be presented as a cowboy with a horse whose steering is also a problem. The garb he is made to wear can rather be assimilated to that of the fighters who killed him by cutting off his head. It is therefore urgent to review this monument so that this hero does not turn over in his grave.

Two of the three monuments recently inaugurated therefore pose a problem and call for a correction. This brief presentation aims to make a plea for the consideration of research results in the field of cultural heritage and, particularly, in archeology where major sites, located almost everywhere in Benin Republic, are just waiting to be highlighted. This activity of high historical and cultural significance is the responsibility of the State services whose program aims in part to promote the rich heritage of Benin to boost tourism.

By Didier N’DAH
Lecturer in Archeology and Prehistory, Teacher at the University of Abomey-Calavi
Article published by L’Afrique en marche n° 269 of August 17, 2022, www.lafriqueenmarche.info reviewed and illustrated

Didier N’DAH
Didier N’DAH

Bibliography elements

BAGODO (O.) et al., 2008, Archaeo-historical study of the tomb site of the military and national hero Bio Guêêra Gbêêsàsi in Bàwura-bànsu (Bembéréké Municipality, Department of Borgu, Republic of Benin, West Africa), Archaeological reconnaissance mission report (March 23-30, 2008), Abomey-Calavi Campus, July 2008, 38 p.

BAGODO (O.) and N'DAH (D.), 2010, ''Archaeological prospecting on the former war sites of Bawura-bansu and Gbêku-bansu (Bembéréké, North-East of Benin): preliminary results'' In Journal of Environment and Culture Vol7, n° 1, June 2010, pp. 79-94.

DEBOUROU (D. M.), 2014, The colonial war in northern Dahomey BiƆ GƐra, between myth and reality: the meaning of his fight for freedom (1915-1917), Paris, Editions L'Harmattan, Collection Etudes africaines, Condé-sur -Noireau, France, 109 p.

*This article has been translated from French into English by Marcus Boni Teiga
 

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