Article

The Woman King’s Erasure of The Kingdom of Dahomey’s Involvement in the Transatlantic Slave Trade

Authors: Emily Marie Sansone (University of Iowa) , Ayshe Nur Ali (University of Iowa)

Abstract

In Gina Prince-Bythewood's, The Woman King, the historical fact that the Kingdom of Dahomey participated in the Transatlantic slave trade is wrongly overlooked, which caused criticism and confusion for audiences watching. Throughout the film, Dahomey is wrongly misunderstood to be a liberator for enslaved individuals, but looking further into historical documentation illustrates Dahomey's involvement and benefit from these horrifying experiences. Although the creators engage the audience with a fully female army, they lack transparency surrounding slavery and Dahomey's involvement. 

Keywords: The Woman King

How to Cite: Sansone, E. M. & Ali, A. N. (2024) “The Woman King’s Erasure of The Kingdom of Dahomey’s Involvement in the Transatlantic Slave Trade”, Iowa Historical Review. 10(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.17077/2373-1842.31883