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Preserving the royal palaces of Abomey, an exceptional site in Benin
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In 1985 the royal palaces of Abomey were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site roster. Since 2019, with funding from AFD, Expertise France has been coordinating technical diagnostics in order to prepare for the renovation and conservation of the site. A training project was launched with Benin’s National Heritage Development Agency and Expertise France which brought in the organisation of craftsmen and artisans, Les Compagnons du Devoir. Traditional techniques in Benin disappeared for the most part as no written records were left by elder craftsmen. Dimitri Andriot, a mason by trade, headed the construction site training in Abomey.
Dimitri Andriot, a mason by training and in charge of international development for the Compagnons du devoir et du Tour de France, led the training on the Abomey site.
Can you describe the training session in Abomey, and what surprised you the most?
During their training in Abomey, the craftsmen followed an intensive 1,600-hour programme combining theory and practice. They learned how to read plans and construction techniques in various fields such as carpentry, masonry, joinery, wood and earth carving, electricity and thatch roofing. What surprised us most was the willingness, courage and enthusiasm of the workers. Their eagerness to learn and their consistently positive attitude were a real pleasure and motivated the instructors. The Beninese have an admirable ability to move forward and find a solution to every problem, which greatly contributed to the positive atmosphere of the training sessions.
What were some of the greatest challenges during the training sessions?
The greatest challenge was to carry out a training project within the allotted time, while passing on the necessary skills to the craftsmen with precision and rigour. We had to manage the complexity of the construction while providing high-quality training, which required impeccable coordination and constant adaptability to unforeseen circumstances.
What were some of the most positive outcomes?
The most positive results were the general satisfaction of the participants and the success of the training site, which turned out very well indeed. What’s more, it was extremely gratifying to see the craftsmen applying the methods they had learned the day after the training course on their own sites. The fact that they were so efficient and evolved so quickly is testament to the quality of the training and also to their commitment to using their new skills.
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