REVEALED: 10 | Vintage Vibes

US returns Benin Bronzes stolen by British colonial forces

Thousands of Benin Bronzes are scattered in museums worldwide after being looted by Britain in the late 19th century.

Al Jazeera · Oct 12, 2022

Woman King is worth watching: but be aware that its take on history is problematic

The Hollywood movie The Woman King, released in mid-September, became an immediate box-office success. The triumphs of the Agoodjies, the women warriors of the ancient Kingdom of Dahomey in today’s Benin, west Africa, are as magnificent as the public had anticipated. In this epic historical drama, African women take centre…

The Conversation · Oct 5, 2022

Epic starring Benin's Agojie women warriors packs a punch in Hollywood

Benin's historic female warriors known as the Amazons of Dahomey are legendary across West Africa. They are now in the international spotlight thanks to "The Woman King" starring Viola Davis. The big budget Hollywood feature has drawn positive reviews, but has provoked some criticism as it was not filmed in…

Radio France Internationale · Sep 29, 2022

King Salman Receives Credentials of Ambassadors of Several Countries

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz received in Jeddah on Tuesday the credentials of a number of ambassadors of brotherly and friendly countries appointed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reported the Saudi Press Agency. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Sep 20, 2022

‘Inconvenient truths’: Berlin’s Humboldt Forum faces up to its colonial past

The revamped museum fully opened on Friday, its looted Benin bronzes now repatriated to Nigeria. Yet are films, replicas and involvement of indigenous communities more than just window dressing?

The Guardian - UK · Sep 19, 2022

‘This is an old story of heroism, of feminism’: the truth behind The Woman King

The historical action epic, starring Viola Davis, tells the story of the Agojie, female African warriors who once reigned supreme

The Guardian - US · Sep 17, 2022

The Woman King is more than an action movie – it shines a light on the women warriors of Benin

The Woman King is a big-budget Hollywood movie that has been anticipated since 2018, when US star Viola Davis was announced as the lead in the story of the “amazons” of Dahomey. Rising South African star Thuso Mbedu also takes a key role in the film, which has premiered at…

The Conversation · Sep 15, 2022

Movie review: 'The Woman King' an epic that puts women in the middle of the action

When actress Maria Bello visited the West African nation of Benin in 2015, she learned the history of the Agojie, an all-female military regiment from the Kingdom of Dahomey (and the inspiration for Wakanda’s Dora Milaje from “Black Panther”). Recognizing the cinematic potential for this story, she developed the project…

Tribune News Service · Sep 14, 2022

Benin in talks with Rwanda over logistical aid to counter Islamist threat

Rwanda may provide logistical support to help Benin tackle a worsening Islamist insurgency that is threatening parts of the West African region, a Benin government spokesperson said on Saturday.

Reuters · Sep 10, 2022

Germany signs deal to give ownership of Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

Germany signed an agreement on Thursday to transfer ownership to Nigeria of the Benin Bronzes, among Africa's most culturally significant artefacts which were looted in the 19th century.

Reuters · Aug 25, 2022