dahomey

English - Turkish

Definition of dahomey in English Turkish dictionary: i., bak. Benin; Benin; Dahomey

Turkish - Turkish

Definition of dahomey in Turkish Turkish dictionary: Benin'in eski adı

English - English

Definition of dahomey in English English dictionary: A former country in Africa, the former name of Benin; {i} former name of Benin (country in western Africa); a country on western coast of Africa; formerly under French control; Kingdom developed among Fon or Aja peoples in 17th century; center at Abomey 70 miles from coast; under King Agaja expanded to control coastline and port of Whydah by 1727; accepted Western firearms and goods in return for African slaves (p 642); A region of West Africa, lying west of Nigeria and north of the Gulf of Guinea It contains Ardra and Whydah, which were taken over by the Dahomans early in the eighteenth century The Dahomey rite is distinguished by the mildness of its Loa; Benim Dahomey, a kingdom in old Fon culture, also the name of Benim in the first years of independence, 1960-19??; is not derived from Daho, the founder of the palace so called, but is a corruption of Danh-homen, "Danh's Belly " The story is as follows: Ardrah divided his kingdom at death between his three sons, and Daho, one of the sons, received the northern portion Being an enterprising and ambitious man, he coveted the country of his neighbour Danh, King of Gedavin, and first applied to him for a plot of land to build a house on This being granted, Daho made other requests in quick succession, and Danh's patience being exhausted, he exclaimed, "Must I open my belly for you to build on?" On hearing this, Daho declared himself insulted, made war on Danh, and slew him He then built his palace where Danh fell, and called it Danh-homen (Nineteenth Century, October, 1890, pp 605-6 )
Dahomey kingdom: Western African kingdom that flourished in the 18th-19th century in what is now central Benin. Initially called Abomey, its name was changed to Dahomey after it had expanded by conquering the neighbouring kingdoms of Allada (1724) and Whydah (1727). It thrived on the slave trade with Europe, reaching its high point under Gezu (1818-58), under whom it became independent of the Oyo empire. Society was rigidly stratified into royalty, commoners, and slaves; a centralized bureaucracy carried out the king's will. The nation was organized for war, both to increase its territory and to take captives for the slave market, and women served as soldiers along with men. With the end of the slave trade in the 1840s, Dahomey began exporting palm oil, which proved less profitable, and an economic decline followed. In 1892 Dahomey was defeated by a French expedition and became part of the French colony of the same name