Preserving Libri GmbH Preserving traditional skills relating to architectural heritage: The case of the royal palaces of Abomey in Benin

The royal palaces lie at the heart of a city that was once the capital of a famous West African kingdom. They form a complex of palaces, built one after the other, covering an area of 47 hectares. Increasingly, the site is facing difficulties linked to the influence of modern building materials, the abandonment of traditional building techniques and a lack of expertise in new construction methods. One cannot overlook the lack of sufficient resources and the physical scale of the site. It is therefore necessary to consider actions that form part of a sustainable approach in order to maintain the outstanding universal value of the royal palaces, which represent both a curiosity and a challenge in terms of conservation. This book, which aims to propose measures to safeguard traditional architectural techniques, draws on the case of the Royal Palaces of Abomey, the only site in Benin inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It conducts a comparative study of the state of these traditional skills, the legal framework, and formal and non-formal training systems.