PC/WI: surviving Kingdom of Dahomey

Is it possible for the Dahomey Kingdom (which is in modern-day Benin, funnily) to survive the tides of the 19th century as an independent state?
If it does, then how does this affect french colonial expansion?
 
I've thought about it before.

The main problems I think are twofold.

1. It's a major player on the west african slave trade and so was well known to europeans. It's on their radar froem very early on.
2. Raids for captive to sacrifice and make slaves were central to it's traditions and economy. That means it's going to be surrounded by enemies and by local petty kigndoms willing to make deals with the europeans in terms for protection as hapened otl and that invitably leads to conflict.
 
It would be easier to become a protectorate, maintaining its monarchy, and then becoming independent during decolonisation.

Or, otherwise, have little to no colonisation in Africa.
 
As Youngmarshall has put it, once the Scramble for Africa has started ti would be very difficult to avoid it, given that it was a coastal kingdom already very well known by the Europeans. To avoid this you would have to avoid all the Scramble for Africa, maybe avoiding the French humiliation in the Franco-Prussian War. After that point, the best case scenario to Dahomey would be, as pointed by Analytical Engine, to make Dahomey a protectorate, and so being restored as an independent kingdom once decolonization starts.
 
Here's a thought: which colonizers were most likely to set up a protectorate? Seems like Britain would be more likely than France, so maybe find a way to get Britain involved in the region?
 
Here's a thought: which colonizers were most likely to set up a protectorate? Seems like Britain would be more likely than France, so maybe find a way to get Britain involved in the region?
Yes, the British were keener on keeping local institutions. About your second question, I don't have the knowledge to answer.
 
Top