{"id":1580,"date":"2024-12-10T15:28:43","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T15:28:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/?p=1580"},"modified":"2026-03-18T22:47:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T22:47:13","slug":"mati-diop-on-dahomey-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/mati-diop-on-dahomey-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Mati Diop on Dahomey (2024)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When 26 royal treasures from the Kingdom of Dahomey (modern-day Republic of Benin) would finally be returned from France, filmmaker Mati Diop was granted rare access to document this historic moment. <em>Dahomey<\/em>, Diop&#8217;s deeply moving and thought-provoking documentary, is the result of that access\u2014a cinematic meditation that not only chronicles the repatriation of these artefacts but also imagines the voices of the objects themselves while focusing on the emotional responses of the Beninese people.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Building on the genre-defying spirit of her debut <em>Atlantiques<\/em>, Diop uses this personal and collective journey as a lens to explore the themes of return, restitution, and memory. Again weaving together fiction and reality in search of deeper truths. In conversation with host Elliot, Diop reflects on the making of <em>Dahomey<\/em>, the cultural significance of the treasures&#8217; homecoming, and the profound, ongoing relationship between history, identity, and filmmaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/linktr.ee\/celebratingcinema\" style=\"color:#000000;background-color:#ffc8dc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/nl\/podcast\/celebrating-cinema\/id1558165273 noopener\"><strong>Subscribe to our podcast<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Mati Diop on Dahomey (2024)\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/episode\/1m3nUVm1ZnaYj1aKJqDN6g?si=2c645a947857413a&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FILMS MENTIONED<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dahomey (Mati Diop, 2024)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Atlantiques (Mati Diop, 2019)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Touki Bouki (Djibril Diop Mamb\u00e9ty, 1973)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A Woman Under The Influence (John Cassavetes, 1974)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our hosts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery alignwide has-nested-images columns-4 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1542\" height=\"2313\" data-id=\"1431\" src=\"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sophie.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1431\" srcset=\"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sophie.jpeg 1542w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sophie-200x300.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sophie-683x1024.jpeg 683w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sophie-768x1152.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sophie-1024x1536.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sophie-1365x2048.jpeg 1365w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sophie-480x720.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sophie-720x1080.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sophie-500x750.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sophie-1140x1710.jpeg 1140w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sophie-320x480.jpeg 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1542px) 100vw, 1542px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sophie Smeets (podcast host)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1707\" height=\"2560\" data-id=\"1432\" src=\"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Tom-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Tom-scaled.jpeg 1707w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Tom-200x300.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Tom-683x1024.jpeg 683w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Tom-768x1152.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Tom-1024x1536.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Tom-1365x2048.jpeg 1365w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Tom-480x720.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Tom-720x1080.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Tom-500x750.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Tom-1140x1710.jpeg 1140w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Tom-320x480.jpeg 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1707px) 100vw, 1707px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tom Ooms (film programmer)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1707\" height=\"2560\" data-id=\"1430\" src=\"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kiriko-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1430\" srcset=\"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kiriko-scaled.jpeg 1707w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kiriko-200x300.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kiriko-683x1024.jpeg 683w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kiriko-768x1152.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kiriko-1024x1536.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kiriko-1365x2048.jpeg 1365w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kiriko-480x720.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kiriko-720x1080.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kiriko-500x750.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kiriko-1140x1710.jpeg 1140w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kiriko-320x480.jpeg 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1707px) 100vw, 1707px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kiriko Mechanicus (film maker)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1707\" height=\"2560\" data-id=\"1429\" src=\"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Hugo-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Hugo-scaled.jpeg 1707w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Hugo-200x300.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Hugo-683x1024.jpeg 683w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Hugo-768x1152.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Hugo-1024x1536.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Hugo-1365x2048.jpeg 1365w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Hugo-480x720.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Hugo-720x1080.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Hugo-500x750.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Hugo-1140x1710.jpeg 1140w, https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Hugo-320x480.jpeg 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1707px) 100vw, 1707px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hugo Emmerzael (film critic)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When 26 royal treasures stolen from the Kingdom of Dahomey were finally returned from France, filmmaker Mati Diop was given rare access to document the moment. Dahomey does something more radical than chronicle a repatriation: it imagines the voices of the objects themselves, asking what it means for history to come home. The film won the Golden Bear at Berlin. Speaking with Elliot, Diop discusses what it meant to be entrusted with this story and why the ceremony of return raises as many questions as it settles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1166,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"audio","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1580","post","type-post","status-publish","format-audio","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-episodes","post_format-post-format-audio"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2001,"href":"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1580\/revisions\/2001"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebratingcinema.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}