Kingdom of Dahomey under Ghezo

Ghezo ruled the Kingdom of Dahomey from 1818 to 1858. His reign strengthened royal authority and military power, ended Dahomey’s tributary relationship with the Oyo Empire and presided over a court and administrative system centred on Abomey.

The kingdom’s warfare and economy were deeply connected to the Atlantic slave trade. British pressure to suppress the trade increased during Ghezo’s reign, while palm-oil exports grew as an alternative source of revenue. These changes created tensions between military, commercial and diplomatic priorities rather than a simple transition from one economy to another.

Frank Yerby’s The Dahomean is set within this political and cultural world and portrays King Ghezo under the spelling Gezo.