THEY SAID NO TO FRENCH COLONIZATION

The MINO (mino means, in FON “our mothers”) were the astonishing and valiant women warriors of the Kingdom of Dahomey. They devoted their entire lives to defending the king and his kingdom. From a very young age, the Mino underwent intense training in combat and the handling of weapons. They were thus psychologically conditioned to withstand pain and ignore pity. Feared and respected by the population, they held a status that was almost sacred.

The reign of these peerless fighters continued during the French colonial expansion in Africa in the 1890s. Nicknamed “Amazons” by the colonists, the Mino showed an unwavering determination that left a lasting mark on the minds of the legionnaires. But at the end of the Second Franco-Dahomean War, the French eventually prevailed after receiving the support of Foreign Legion troops armed with machine guns. Most of the Mino were killed during the 23 battles of this conflict. Courage alone, however, cannot stand against the rifles and cannon of the colonial army.