Special Interview with Dah Tovomandjèhoungni, Beninese from the Diaspora: “Ideally, we’d like to be involved in our country’s development”.

His Majesty Tovomadjèhougni Dako-Donou remains a source of pride for Benin and Africa. His many actions for the development of the black continent from its cultural riches are recognized by major institutions and resource persons around the world. As a result, he was recently elected Vice-President of the Royal Throne of Africa. A melting pot of Africa’s high dignitaries based in Douala, Cameroon. In an interview granted to your webmedia on November 02, 2023, the President of the Africa Vodoun Festival USA and President of the NGO Midogbékpo Corporation responded to several concerns linked to the festival, his relations with the outside world as well as with the Beninese authorities, and his recent appointment…(Read)

Diaspora Info : Hello Majesty, please introduce yourself to our readers.

His Majesty Tovomandjèhoungni: I’m Dr Dénis Assongba, Dah Tovomandjèhoungni, president of the NGO Midogbékpo Corporation and promoter of the Africa Vodoun USA Festival. I’m an ambassador for peace and vice-president of the Royal Throne of Africa, to stop there for the moment (laughs).

You’re in your 37th year in the United States. Can you tell us how you find it there compared to Benin back home?

Well, it’s always good to travel and get to know other countries. But there’s no place like home. So I always choose my country over here. It’s just that things have changed a lot here. People know how to fight for success without relying on the state. Unfortunately, that’s not the case here in Benin, where everyone relies on the State. People need to be able to ask themselves what they can contribute to their country, not what the country can contribute to them. It’s with this in mind that we Beninese in the diaspora have always thought of contributing our experience and resources to the development of our country, but it’s clear that the authorities don’t want to involve us in anything. And I’d like to take this opportunity to say that in Benin we don’t like each other. All things that are behind us. We’re going to have to rethink things, and our country will be the better for it.

Speaking of your Africa Vaudoun USA festival. Tell us what’s new at the moment? What will we remember after the Comè Festival?

First of all, I’d like to say that the Festival is on the right track. The Comè edition was a resounding success. The next edition is scheduled for Kandi in 2024. I would like to point out that this year’s edition was due to be held in Haiti, but was postponed for security reasons. In other words, the aim is to organize the festival in every country. I’d like to take this opportunity to inform you that in 2025, this will be a worldwide Festival, and we’ll have to travel to every continent. So it would be ungrateful of me not to tell you that this festival has opened up quite a few doors for me, not to say opportunities. Just last Saturday, Washington invited me to discuss Vodoun as part of the Halloween program. Another appointment has been made for December 1, when Benin will be honored through the celebration of King Behanzin. A role I’ll have the great honor of playing at a major festival in Atlanta. In other words, the Africa Vodoun Festival USA has opened up all these opportunities for me. What’s more, I’m currently on a trip to Mali to meet President Assimi Goïta in the company of several African kings.

How are relations with Suriname?

Relations with Suriname are very good. I have contacts with people who work with me there. Next year I plan to organize a spiritual and cultural meeting there.

A word about Talon’s governance?

The President of the Republic is ambitious. If someone is ambitious, he likes to do a lot of things. I’ve noticed that there’s a problem of mutual respect between our brothers and sisters. This doesn’t encourage those who do things for the country. But we need to strengthen collaboration with our sons and daughters abroad. Otherwise the work isn’t bad. People ask me: “With all you’re doing for your country’s culture, why don’t you have the support of the authorities? It’s not foreigners who are going to build Benin for us. Ideally, we should also be involved in the development of our country. I’m talking in particular about us Beninese in the diaspora. We want to invest in our country and need guidance. Every year 300 to 500 Americans come to Benin thanks to the Africa Vodoun Festival, but why aren’t the authorities in my country interested in this, if only to encourage me? The government needs to think about involving us as Beninese abroad to contribute to our country’s development.

We were very moved to learn of your appointment as Vice-President of the Royal Throne of Africa.
What do you think of this responsibility?

I accepted this responsibility on proposal. I was elected. The kings promoted me and they know I’m going to do it. As I speak, there are kings who have come here and are benefiting from this. As Vice President of the Royal Throne of Africa, I felt that you can’t have an association without paying dues. I insisted that contributions must be up to date. If people don’t pay, they can’t be in the Royal Throne of Africa. It’s not the number that’s important. It’s the quality. You have to contribute to evolve. That’s what I’m fighting for. The next meeting of the members of the Trône Royal d’Afrique will take place in Benin. That’s my wish.

Your final words

I would say that as long as there is still work to be done, nothing has been done. Let everyone do what they can for the development of their country. Benin belongs to all of us. So let’s cultivate love of neighbor.

Interviewed and transcribed by the Editor