Amazons of Black Sparta: The Women Warriors of Dahomey by Stanley B. Alpern. The definitive account of the Dahomey Amazons, the all-female military regiment that fought for the kings of Dahomey from the 17th century until the French conquest in 1894. Alpern draws on contemporary accounts from European traders and soldiers to reconstruct the lives and battles of these extraordinary women. Essential reading for understanding Abomey and the Dahomey kingdom.
Wives of the Leopard: Gender, Politics, and Culture in the Kingdom of Dahomey by Edna G. Bay. A scholarly but readable exploration of how women wielded power in the Dahomey court -- not just the famous Amazons, but queens, priestesses, and palace women who shaped the kingdom's politics. Gives real depth to what you will see at the Abomey palaces.
The Slave Trade by Hugh Thomas. Not specifically about Benin, but this sweeping history of the Atlantic slave trade gives essential context for understanding Ouidah and the Route des Esclaves. Thomas traces the trade from its origins through abolition, with vivid detail on the West African ports where captives were shipped.
In the Shadow of the Sacred Grove by Carol Spindel. An American anthropologist's account of living in a small West African village, set in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire but capturing the rhythms of rural life, spiritual practice, and community in ways that resonate deeply with travel in Benin's countryside.
Royal Art of Benin: The Perls Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Kate Ezra. A beautifully illustrated guide to the bronze and ivory artworks of the historic Benin Kingdom (the Nigerian kingdom, not the modern country). While the connection is primarily artistic rather than geographic, the Dahomey kingdom shared artistic traditions with its neighbor, and this book illuminates the broader cultural world of the region.