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The dry stone architecture of Shabe district in the Collin province of central Benin caught the attention of the jury of an international competition recently held in Italy. The photograph of the building submitted by archaeologist Nestor Labiyi won first prize in the free category for the best photograph.
Benin is a country with great cultural and historical potential, but it is still unknown to the public.archeology With the particularity of helping to spread this heritage, whether it is still visible or buried deep in the earth.
This is exactly the case of the dry-stone architecture of the Etoo de Yaoui site, located in the Kilibo district of the Ouèssè commune, 327 km north of Cotonou, in a photo provided by Dr. Nestor Labiyi, archaeologist, teacher and researcher at the National Institute of Crafts, Archaeology and Culture (INMAAC) of the University of Abomey-Calavi, in the free category of a competition organized last June by the Interdepartmental Research Center for Traditional Skills of the Mediterranean Basin of the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, and the European University Cultural Heritage Centre.
Dry Stone Building
Characteristics of several regions benign Particularly in central Benin and the northwest of the country, dry stone architecture is “buildings made using blocks of rock or stone, without the use of any type of binding agent (kneaded earth, clay, etc.),” explains Dr. Barpougouni Mardjoua, archaeologist and member of the research team that worked at the Yavêtu site.
The photo contest was actually just one of the activities of a symposium jointly organized by the two centers, the theme of which was “Dry Stone Architecture: Diffusion of Knowledge and Techniques”. The symposium was held on June 11, 2024 in Vico Equense, Italy, and attended by about 100 researchers from universities and institutions in Europe and Africa.
teamwork
During this important scientific meeting, a team of archaeologists from Benin (Nestor Labiyi, Barpougouni Mardjoua, Elie Affouda from the University of Abomey-Calavi) and from Burkina Faso (Hantissié Hervé Farma, Lassané Toubga from the Joseph Ki-Zerbo University) presented a study on the original communication of dry stone architecture in central Benin and Atakora.
In addition to the exchange, the archaeological team members had the opportunity to participate individually in the photography competition organized on the theme of the seminar and take their own photos. This is how Dr. Labiyi submitted a photo of the Etoo site in Yaoui extracted from the newsletter in the free category. This photo convinced the jury to award him the first prize.
Nestor Labiyi encourages “young researchers to form multidisciplinary teams as part of their research”
The Benin winners expressed their first impressions after the good news was announced, all of whom wished to promote the team spirit when carrying out research projects. “As a first impression, we would like to thank the organizers of this competition, in which any researcher is free to participate,” began Nestor Labiyi.
He continued: “Next, this win was the result of teamwork, and we are using it to encourage young researchers to form multidisciplinary teams as part of their research. Because it is difficult, if not impossible, to do good science while keeping your fields and specialties separate.”
“The crowning encourages a job well done”
At Barpougouni Mardjoua, there is a sense of satisfaction and recognition among the team members. “It is a complete satisfaction and a deep gratitude to the rest of the team. It is thanks to the participation of all the other members that this award was possible. That is why I reiterate my deep gratitude to all the members of the team we are building,” he told us.
Elie Afuda added: “I am very impressed. Facing this supreme achievement, I feel a sense of pride and moral satisfaction, which encourages me to do my work well. I am proud to work with researchers whose merits have now transcended the limits of national borders. This distinction is a testament to their intellectual abilities and augurs for a better future for scientific research.”
Bright prospects for young researchers
Elie Afouda, the youngest member of the team, also expressed his gratitude to his elders: “I would like to end my speech by thanking these elders who held my hands and guided me in my research.”
Undoubtedly, this award is of great significance to the cultural heritage of Benin and is indeed a good sign for young researchers from the University of Abomey-Calavi and Joseph Kisembo University in Ouagadougou. The communication by Dr. Nestor Labiyi and colleagues will soon be published in a special issue of an international scientific journal.
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