Professor Leonard Wantchekon visited The Zinsou Foundation on Friday August 19 to give a talk to young entrepreneurs on the role that the tourism industry plays in economic recovery of Benin. This event is part of a series of conferences organised periodically by the Foundation.

Professor Wantchekon addressed an audience mainly formed by entrepreneurs from the ICT sector, start-up managers and friends of Mrs. Marie-Cecile Zinsou, Director of the Foundation, and a promoter of local Beninese artists. The thirty minute presentation focused on the features of geographic landscape and its rich and fascinating history that should make it a premiere tourist destination. He stressed the diversity of Benin landscape (water falls and wildlife in Atakora, Hills in Dassa, Oueme Valley) that could be explored within days. The unique aspects of the country political history include  “the amazons”, an all women elite military unit in the highly institutionalized  Kingdom of Dahomey from 1645 to 1894, the intrigues of the anti-colonial resistance revealed by the correspondence between King Glele and Emperor Bismarck (1882-1892). The tragedy of Slave Trade from Ouidah was contrasted with the triumphant return of and economic prosperity of former slaves from Brazil back to their homeland in Agoue. The audience was captivated by the incredible life of Tovalou Quenum from Porto Novo, the Marcus Garvey of Africa and the first leader of pan-Africanism, who died in prison in Dakar (Senegal) in 1936 at the age 49.  The speech also highlighted the rapid spread of missionary schools in late 19th Century that led Benin to become the “Latin Quarter of Africa”.

After the talk the audience and the speaker engaged in a rich conversation and Q&A session. Among other topics, there was a discussion on the use of technology to promote tourism in Benin. Professor Wantchekon also stressed the fact that the new ASE campus will feature a museum of African Art and History and a botanical garden.