Zomachi Memorial- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

The Zomachi Memorial, located south of Ouidah on the coast of Benin, was created to honor the victims of the transatlantic slave trade and their local collaborators. Known as the "House of Reconciliation," it was founded by Professor Honorat Aguessy, a prominent civil society figure, who invested personally in its establishment as a symbol of memory, repentance, and forgiveness. The name "Zomachi," derived from the words for "fire" and "eternal," represents a flame that never extinguishes. Though the memorial was destroyed in 2024, it stood as a poignant reminder of the region's painful past and the ongoing journey of reconciliation.