Alexis Adandé

Alexis Adandé (born 7 April 1949) is an archaeologist from Benin, who has been key to the foundation of the discipline in the country.

Alexis Adandé
Born7 April 1949
Dakar, Senegal
CitizenshipBenin
OccupationArchaeologist

Biography

Alexis Bertrand Agunmaro Adandé was born on 7 April 1949 in Dakar, Senegal.[1] His father was Alexandre Adandé who was key to the organisation of the First World Festival of Negro Arts in 1969.[2] Between 1954 and 1968 he studied at primary and secondary levels in Dakar, and Porto-Novo.[1] He went on to study at the Institute of Higher Education of Benin in Lomé, Togo, and from there he continued his studies at University of Paris I, Sorbonne, where he graduated with an MA in 1972.[1]

Career

From 1972-79 Adandé taught history and geography at secondary schools in Benin.[1] In 1979 he returned to University of Paris I, Sorbonne to study archaeology: in 1980 he was awarded a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Archaeology; in 1984 a PhD.[1] From 1978 he was worked as a lecturer at the University of Abomey-Calavi, whilst studying for his PhD.[1] On completion on his PhD he continued to teach there until 1986 when he was promoted to Assistant Professor of Archaeology.[1] In 1993 he was promoted to Senior Lecturer in Archaeology.[1] From 1989-95 he was Deputy Head of the Department of History and Archaeology of the University of Benin.[1] From 1992-94 he was chair of the West African Archaeological Association.[3] He was Executive Director of the West African Museums Programme from 1995-2001.[3] From 2003-07 he was head of the Archaeological Research Team of Benin (ERAB).[1] He retired from the University of Abomey-Calavi in 2012.[3]

Research

Adandé's research focused on Benin and West Africa and is notable as an African archaeologist who has transformed the discipline in his home country.[4] In 2017 he gave a keynote address at the conference of the West African Archaeological Association entitled: "Nous, archéologues africains, qui servons-nous?" / " We, African Archaeologists, who do we Serve?"[5]

Excavations

Adandé has directed many excavations in Benin, these include: the Allada region (1981-2); Mono Valley Rescue Project (1990-3); Ouidah (1991); Ouessè Archaeological Research Project Manager (1992); co-led a project on Beninese-Danish archaeology (2002-04).[1] He collaborated with Neil L Norman to explore the history of the transatlantic slave trade and the Kingdom of Dahomey from an archaeological perspective.[6] He was the first archaeologist to conduct well-documented excavations at Togoudo Awutè Allada, which formed his doctoral research.[7] He was part of the Archaeological Research Team of Benin which conducted the first comprehensive survey of monuments in Benin.[1] He has advocated for archaeological research programmes across West Africa to transcend modern national boundaries.[8]

Museums

In 1988 Adandé curated the first archaeological exhibition in Benin: “Ten years of archaeological research in Benin”, which was held on the campus of Abomey-Calavi and Honmè Museum.[1] He has worked on integrating Benin's education system with its cultural heritage.[9] In 2002 he co-edited with Emmanuel Arinze Museums and Urban Culture in West Africa.[10] He has also collaborated with UNESCO to deliver training on how to nominate places for World Heritage Site status.[11]

References
  1. N’Dah, Didier (2014), Smith, Claire (ed.), "Adandé, Alexis B. A.", Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology, Springer New York, pp. 20–22, doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-0465-2_2359, ISBN 978-1-4419-0426-3, retrieved 2020-06-10
  2. Semley, Lorelle D., 1969-. To be free and French : citizenship in France's Atlantic empire. Cambridge, United Kingdom. pp. xvii. ISBN 978-1-107-10114-2. OCLC 986814913.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. "People- Salzburg Global Seminar". www.salzburgglobal.org. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  4. Mitchell, Peter; Lane, Paul J., eds. (2013-07-04). The Oxford Handbook of African Archaeology (1 ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 28. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199569885.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-956988-5.
  5. 15TH COLLOQUIUM, WEST AFRICA ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (W.A.A.A/A.O.A.A) PROGRAMhttps://westafricaactivities.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/draft_waaa-main-program-doc.pdf
  6. Norman, Neil L. (2009). "Hueda (Whydah) Country and Town: Archaeological Perspectives on the Rise and Collapse of an African Atlantic Kingdom". The International Journal of African Historical Studies. 42 (3): 387–410. ISSN 0361-7882.
  7. Adande, Alexis. Togudo-Awute, capitale de l'Ancien royaume d'Allada: étude d'une cité précoloniale d'après les sources orales, écrites et les données de l'archéologie. Diss. 1984.
  8. Adandé, Alexis. "Les origines lointaines des peuples de la République du Bénin: problématique et perspectives de recherche." Afrika Zamani: revue annuelle d'histoire africaine= Annual Journal of African History 1 (1993): 65-92.
  9. The presented past : heritage, museums, and education. Stone, Peter G., 1957-, Molyneaux, Brian., World Archaeological Congress (2nd : 1990 : Barquisimeto, Venezuela). London: Routledge in association with English Heritage. 1994. p. 316. ISBN 0-203-20407-7. OCLC 54058428.CS1 maint: others (link)
  10. Museums & urban culture in West Africa. Adandé, Alexis., Arinze, E. N., West African Museums Programme., International African Institute. Oxford: Published on behalf of the West African Museums Programme in association with the International African Institute [by] James Currey. 2002. ISBN 0-85255-276-9. OCLC 47117358.CS1 maint: others (link)
  11. REPORT ON THE SECOND PHASE OF THE WORLD HERITAGE NOMINATION TRAINING COURSE https://awhf.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Namibia-Nomin-Report_2_Final.pdf
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