This book focuses on the Fon-speaking people of West Africa historically associated with the emergence and expansion of the Dahomey Kingdom. Centered in the city of Abomey, now in Benin, this kingdom was ruled by hereditary monarchs that claimed absolute control over the life and property of subjects. A great deal of the book is devoted to discussing the religious, economic and sociological conditions that led to the continuity of this complex political system possible. The book is the first part of a two volume work compiled based on ethnographic data collected in 1931. The author also makes extensive use of earlier accounts by European travelers and traders. The most important of these accounts was compiled by E. Burton who lived in Abomey in 1863-1864. Grouped into major headings, coverage of this volume includes geography and history, economic life (including detailed discussion of production, distribution, property, and how each of these related to Dahomey culture and political organization), social organization (with particular emphasis on kinship, clanship, and secret societies), and major customs and rituals related to life cycles.
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