gavel History of the Fon
Fon and Yoruba: enemy neighbors?
The Fon (Benin) and the Yoruba (Nigeria, southeastern Benin) are two neighboring peoples who alternated between war and alliance for 4 centuries. The story of a complex relationship.
The 18th-19th century wars
The Kingdom of Dahomey long raided Yoruba villages for the slave trade. Several major wars:
Marriages and trade
Despite the conflicts, there were constant exchanges: cowrie trade, princely marriages, shared Vodun cults. Many deities are shared.
Modern neighbors
In Benin, the Plateau and Mono departments are still home to a large Yoruba community. Peaceful coexistence, mixed marriages are common.
Good to know
In modern Benin, many Beninese speak both Fon and Yoruba. It is even a valued skill in the civil service of the southeast.
Neighbors, sometimes cousins
Fon and Yoruba — four centuries of complex history, mixing wars and mergers. Today peaceful neighbors, heirs to a shared geography.
Fon culture is understood in the Fon language.
Proverbs, Vodun, the history of Danxomɛ: all of it is said first in Fon. 79 video lessons with a native speaker, from the first greeting to conversation — so you can listen to this culture without having it translated for you.
One free trial lesson when you sign up.
- The Fon video course: see the program — 79 lessons with a native speaker from Cotonou, taught in French
- What is your Fon level? — the free 15-question test