Women warriors of Dahomey

DAHOMEY AMAZONS
The Dahomey Amazons, also called N’Nonmiton (which means ‘‘our mothers’’ in Fon), were a Fon military regiment which comprised women in the old kingdom of Dahomey situated in the present-day Republic of Benin. The regiment existed till the end of the nineteenth century when Africa came in contact with colonialism.
The female soldiers were recruited from foreign captives, free Dahomian women while some enrolled at a tender age- as early as 8 years old. There is another account which narrates that N’Nonminton were also recruited from the palace, the ahosi (king’s wives). Some of these women became soldiers voluntarily while some were forcefully enrolled as a result of their rude behaviour.

They spent most of their time in training which involved; wrestling, target practice, obstacle races, large scale simulated attacks, forest trails and initiation in the bush which lasted several days. They also went through several religious rituals by reciting magical incantations to increase their magical strength, wearing of protective amulets and also consulting Bokovon, the seer, who guided them.
They are known to be valorous and never relenting in battles unlike men soldiers who were often punished for fleeing from battle. They are a personification of courage. The havoc they unleashed in Abeokuta during the Egba-Dahomey war in 1851 proved the fact that they were women who could challenge the power of men by reaching their status other than subject themselves to domestic works at home.

They were ferocious, muscular and highly skilled in the way they handled their victims by torturing and decapitating them. They were able to endure pain for a long time that only their bosom proved their femininity. Their undying bravery served them in resisting the French troops during the colonial conquest. No wonder a representation of N’Nonmiton featured in ‘Black Panther’ by making the army comprise fearless women who are ready to sacrifice their life in defending their nation.