You cannot talk about Benin without mentioning Porto-Novo and it is impossible to describe the city without referring to the poetic music of the adjogan where song and dance mingle.
First of all, I would like to clear up the confusion about the instrument and its music. The instrument is called the alounloun and the music it plays is called adjogan. But what is the alounloun and where did it come from? The alounloun is a stick about one meter long, with a centre spindle of copper-clad iron with rings that slide up and down to produce the harmony of its music. To find out where it came from, we must go Back in history.
In the beginning, the alounloun was a stick symbolizing the power of the king of Allada (a kingdom in southern Benin). Te-Agdanlin, founder of the kingdom of Porto-Novo, inherited it from his father King De-Kopkon when he died. He took the alounloun with him during the migration towards south-eastern Benin where he created the kingdom of Hogbonou (Porto-Novo). When he in turn died, and then from one generation to another, the alounloun underwent various transformations depending on the taste and aspirations of each king. It was really transformed into a musical instrument by King De-Gbeyon to pay homage to the shades of his ancestors.
In time, this instrument was played not only to pay homage to dead kings but also to living kings, during their enthronement or for the consecration of mito (ministers of the king) by the ahossi (wives of the king within the royal court). The wives lined up in rows of six each, accompanied by others who played gongs or clapped their hands. The instrument was also played in the villages controlled by the king of Porto-Novo in his honour. It is the same thing today. But in modern times, the king no longer takes as many wives and the musicians' role now falls on the wives of the princes. The alounloun was also played during the five dynasties of Porto-Novo when the sovereign was chosen in rotation and in Catholic churches during processions and parades celebrating Epiphany to pay homage to Christ, King of the Universe. When it was introduced into the Catholic Church of Porto-Novo, the alounloun underwent certain modifications. The crested bird, symbol of King Kokpon, was replaced by the cross, symbolizing Christianity.
If you ever come to Benin, do not miss an opportunity to see and hear this instrument. You will be very impressed.
