Frederick Edwyn Forbes’ 1851 depiction of Seh-Dong-Hong-Beh, a leader of the Amazons
Seh-Dong-Hong-Beh was a powerful female leader in the Kingdom of Dahomey, located in present-day Benin. She was born in the early 19th century and rose to prominence as a warrior and commander in the Dahomey military.
Seh-Dong-Hong-Beh was one of several leaders of the Dahomey Amazons, a unit of female soldiers who were renowned for their bravery and skill in battle. She played a key role in several military campaigns, including a major assault on the neighboring Egba people in 1851, which was intended to capture slaves for the Dahomey slave trade.
In 1851, she is believed to have commanded an army of over 5,500 women warriors in a raid on the Egba fortress of Abeokuta. The objective of the attack was to capture slaves from the Egba people to be sold in the Dahomey slave trade.
According to some accounts, Seh-Dong-Hong-Beh also led a rebellion against the ruling monarchy of Dahomey in the late 19th century, though the details of this event are unclear.
Despite the fact that little is known about Seh-Dong-Hong-Beh’s life, she is remembered as a symbol of female empowerment and resistance in African history. Her legacy has inspired generations of women to stand up for their rights and fight for justice and equality.
Did you know?
Seh-Dong-Hong-Beh’s name means “God speaks true”.