Abomey
—  Commune and city  —
Abomey Location in Benin
Coordinates: 7°11′8″N 1°59′17″E / 7.18556°N 1.98806°E / 7.18556; 1.98806Coordinates: 7°11′8″N 1°59′17″E / 7.18556°N 1.98806°E / 7.18556; 1.98806
Country	Benin
Department	Zou Department
Area
• Total	142 km2 (55 sq mi)
Elevation	221 m (725 ft)
Population (2008)
• Total	87,344
• Density	620/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Time zone	WAT (UTC+1)

Abomey is a city in the Zou Department of Benin, formerly the capital of the ancient kingdom of Dahomey, including the Republic of Dahomey (1960–1975) which became modern-day Benin. The kingdom was established about 1625. The commune covers an area of 142 square kilometres and as of 2002 had a population of 78,341 people.^[1][2]

The Royal Palaces of Abomey[link]

The royal palaces of Abomey are a group of earthen structures built by the Fon people between the mid-17th and late 19th Centuries. One of the most famous and historically significant traditional sites in West Africa, the palaces form one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The town was surrounded by a mud wall with a circumference estimated at six miles (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1911), pierced by six gates, and protected by a ditch five feet deep, filled with a dense growth of prickly acacia, the usual defence of West African strongholds. Within the walls were villages separated by fields, several royal palaces, a market-place and a large square containing the barracks. In November 1892, Behanzin, the last independent reigning king of Dahomey, being defeated by French colonial forces, set fire to Abomey and fled northward. The French colonial administration rebuilt the town and connected it with the coast by a railroad.

When UNESCO designated the royal palaces of Abomey as a World Heritage Site in 1985 it stated

From 1625 to 1900 twelve kings succeeded one another at the head of the powerful Kingdom of Abomey. With the exception of King Akaba, who used a separate enclosure, they each had their palaces built within the same cob-wall area, in keeping with previous palaces as regards the use of space and materials. The royal palaces of Abomey are a unique reminder of this vanished kingdom.

From 1993, 50 of the 56 bas-reliefs that formerly decorated the walls of King Glèlè (now termed the 'Salle des Bijoux') have been located and replaced on the rebuilt structure. The bas-reliefs carry an iconographic program expressing the history and power of the Fon people.

Today, the city is of less importance, but is still popular with tourists and as a centre for crafts.

Threats[link]

As reported by UNESCO World Heritage News, the Royal Palaces of Abomey suffered from a fire on January 21, 2009, "which destroyed several buildings."^[3] The fire was the most recent disaster which has plagued the site, coming after a powerful tornado damaged the site in 1984.^[4]

Demographics[link]

Gallery[link]

• 

  "Important witchdoctors" (1908)

• 

  Dance of the Fon chiefs 1908

• 

  Young girl with wooden statue of mystic chair (1908)

• 

  Abomey in 2006

See also[link]

• The city is twinned with Albi, France.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikisource has the text of the 1921 Collier's Encyclopedia article Abomey.

• UNESCO assessment of threats to the site, after tornado damage in 1984.
• Historical Museum of Abomey

v t e Communes of Benin Alibori Department Banikoara Gogounou Kandi Karimama Malanville Ségbana Atakora Department Boukoumbé Cobly Kérou Kouandé Matéri Natitingou Pehonko Tanguiéta Toucountouna Atlantique Department Abomey-Calavi Allada Kpomassè Ouidah Sô-Ava Toffo Tori-Bossito Zè Borgou Department Bembèrèkè Kalalè N'Dali Nikki Parakou Pèrèrè Sinendé Tchaourou Collines Department Bantè Dassa-Zoumè Glazoué Ouèssè Savalou Savé Donga Department Bassila Copargo Djougou Ouaké Kouffo Department Aplahoué Djakotomey Dogbo-Tota Klouékanmè Lalo Toviklin Littoral Department Cotonou Mono Department Athiémè Bopa Comé Grand-Popo Houéyogbé Lokossa Ouémé Department Adjarra Adjohoun Aguégués Akpro-Missérété Avrankou Bonou Dangbo Porto-Novo Sèmè-Kpodji Plateau Department Ifangni Adja-Ouèrè Kétou Pobè Sakété Zou Department Abomey Agbangnizoun Bohicon Covè Djidja Ouinhi Za-Kpota Zagnanado Zogbodomey

v t e Arrondissements of the Zou Department Abomey Agbokpa · Dètohou · Djègbè · Hounli · Sèhoun · Vidolè · Zounzounmè Agbangnizoun Adahondjigon · Adingningon · Agbangnizoun · Kinta · Kpota · Lissazounmè · Sahé · Siwé · Tanvé · Zoungoudo Bohicon Agongointo · Avogbana · Bohicon I · Bohicon II · Gnidjazoun · Lissèzoun · Ouassaho · Passagon · Saclo · Sodohomè Covè Adogbé · Gounli · Houéko · Houen-Hounso · Lainta-Cogbè · Naogon · Soli · Zogba Djidja Agondji · Agouna · Dan · Djidja · Dohouimè · Gobè · Monsourou · Mougnon · Oungbègamè · Outo · Setto · Zoukou Ouinhi Dasso · Ouinhi · Sagon · Tohoué Za-Kpota Allahé · Assalin · Houngomey · Kpakpamè · Kpozoun · Za-Kpota · Za-Tanta · Zèko Zagnanado Agonli-Houégbo · Banamè · Don-Tan · Dovi · Kpédékpo · Zagnanado Zogbodomey Akiza · Avlamè · Cana I · Cana II · Domè · Koussoukpa · Kpokissa · Massi · Tanwé-Hessou · Zogbodomey · Zoukou

This is a Korean name; the family name is Kim.

Olympic medal record
Competitor for  North Korea
Men's freestyle wrestling
Gold	1992 Barcelona	Light flyweight[1]
Gold	1996 Atlanta	Light flyweight[1]

Kim Il (born July 25, 1971) is a North Korean wrestler who won Olympic gold medals in men's freestyle wrestling, light flyweight (<48 kg), in 1992 and 1996.^[1] He won silver at the 1991 World Championships.^[2] In 2006, he was inducted into the Federation Internationale de Luttes Associees Hall of Fame. ^[2]

References[link]

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Il Kim Olympic medals and stats". databaseOlympics.com. http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=KIMIL01. Retrieved 2006-11-13. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Nine New Members Inducted into the FILA Hall of Fame". The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. http://www.wrestlinghalloffame.org/index.php?action=fullnews&id=2327. Retrieved 2006-11-13. 

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