The Fearless All-Female African Warriors of Dahomey

The Dahomey Amazons, also known as the Mino Women Warriors, were an all-female military unit of the Kingdom of Dahomey, located in what is now Benin, West Africa. These formidable female warriors were active from the 17th century until the fall of the kingdom to French colonization in the late 19th century.

Highly skilled in combat, the Mino warrior women originally began as elephant hunters before transforming into a fearsome force that played a significant role in Dahomey’s military. These women were known for their fearlessness, discipline and loyalty to the king. They were recruited at a young age and underwent rigorous military training. In order to dedicate themselves fully to their tasks, many of them even took a vow of chastity.

The Dahomey Amazons were armed with rifles, clubs and knives, and their numbers grew to between 1,000 and 6,000 female warriors, who made up a significant part of the Dahomey army. Despite their strength and skill, the kingdom was ultimately conquered by the French and the Amazons were disbanded. However, their legacy remains a powerful symbol of female strength and empowerment in African history.