The second tallest statue in Africa

Standing along the Atlantic Ocean in Cotonou, Benin, is the Amazon Monument. Unveiled on July 30, 2022, by President Patrice Talon, this colossal structure stands at 30 meters high and weighs 150 tons, making it the second tallest statue in Africa. Depicting a young female warrior with a rifle and a sword in a defiant, battle-ready pose, the bronze-covered metal structure stands on the Esplanade des Amazones. The decision to erect the monument was made following a Council of Ministers' meeting in July 2019.

Initiated to provide a new visual identity for the Republic of Benin, the statue also pays tribute to the Dahomey Amazons, an all-female military regiment that existed until the end of the 19th century in the Kingdom of Dahomey. Designed by sculptor Li Xiangqun, the statue depicts a woman in a fearless stance, echoing the spirit of the Agoodjié, a corps created during the reign of Hangbe and restructured by King Ghezo.

Despite the monument's significance, controversy arose in May 2022 when rumors circulated on social media that the statue represented Hangbe. The government of Benin issued a press release on May 14, 2022, denying this rumor and recalling the context of the monument's erection. Today, the Amazon Monument remains a towering symbol of the Republic of Benin, located opposite Independence Square and the Presidential Palace.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons