Savalou

History

Savalou was historically the center of the Kingdom of Savalou, located in the western half of the Collines Department in modern-day Benin. The kingdom was founded in the sixteenth century by Soha Gbaguidi I. The founder of the kingdom, Soha Gbaguidi (born Agba Rhako), became village chief of Damè when the former chief, Ligbo, died. Ligbo was Rhako's grandfather, as his father, who had fled his home village on the shores of Lake Ahémé after killing his brother, married Ligbo's daughter. After Ligbo's death, it was decided that whoever could succeed at taming a buffalo and riding it would become his successor. Rhako succeeded, becoming village chief, and was awarded the nickname 'Soha' (one who tamed the buffalo). Soon, Rhako and his subordinates moved to the village of Houawé near Bohicon. He waged wars with the inhabitants of the region and eventually imposed his authority on them, mainly on the Yoruba, who nicknamed him 'Oba-Guidi' (true chief). This nickname would eventually transform into Gbaguidi over time. Rhako maintained good relations with another nearby chief, Do-Aklin, but after he died, his sons Gangni-Hessou and Dako-Donou were unable to tolerate Rhako's growing influence. Eventually, Dako-Donou forcefully subjugated all the chiefdoms in the region, including Rhako's. Rhako, not wanting to resist Dako-Donou, migrated north with his subjects to the Honhoungo region, near the large Yoruba village of Tchébélou. Rhako soon conquered this village by tying burning straw to the feet of pigeons, who would land on the straw roofs of the village huts. Afterwards, he offered the chief of Tchébélou the help of his men to rebuild his village. He accepted and organized a banquet of gratitude to launch the reconstruction work. However, when the banquet ended, Rhako and…

Most-observed species

• common warthog

  Phacochoerus africanus (Gmelin, 1788) · Mammalia
  34
• Hyophila Moss

  Hyophila involuta (Hook.) A.Jaeger · Bryopsida
  9
• Tantalus Monkey

  Chlorocebus tantalus (Ogilby, 1841) · Mammalia
  9
• Fissidens flaccidus Mitt.

  Fissidens flaccidus Mitt. · Bryopsida
  6
• bushbuck

  Tragelaphus scriptus (Pallas, 1766) · Mammalia
  5
• Fissidens unipapillosus Brugg.-Nann.

  Fissidens unipapillosus Brugg.-Nann. · Bryopsida
  5
• Zollinger's Fissidens Moss

  Fissidens zollingeri Mont. · Bryopsida
  4
• Mexican-sunflower, Japanese-sunflower

  Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray · Magnoliopsida
  4