In response to what they consider a serious and troubling drift, the legitimate Queen Mothers of Benin are speaking out. They vehemently denounce the presumptuous, disrespectful, and blatantly fraudulent behavior of Désir Dòwòti, who has self-proclaimed herself as the « Queen Mother of the African Diaspora. »
As guardians of tradition and ancestral memory, these Queen Mothers are calling on President Patrice Talon to take swift and uncompromising action to correct this symbolic transgression, which they say tarnishes the royal legacy of Benin and Africa as a whole. They also urge the African diaspora to remain vigilant against such symbolic manipulation. According to them, royal title usurpation is not just a misuse of words—it is a desecration of Africa’s historical heritage.
Historically, only one Queen Mother is recognized and revered by the diaspora: Nayé Agontinmey, mother of King Guézo. She was torn from her people and deported to Brazil during the era of the transatlantic slave trade. She embodies the pain, resistance, and dignity of a royalty in exile. To claim this title without legitimate roots, as Désir Dòwòti has done, is to trample on the very history and sacred rituals that define the nobility of this role.
Being a Queen Mother is not a whim, nor a mere honorary title, and certainly not a status of convenience. It is a sacred duty—passed down, inherited, and officially recognized by legitimate traditional authorities.
What’s more, in a blatant act of disrespect, this self-styled Queen Mother recently took it upon herself to decorate the Vice President of Colombia, an Afro-descendant woman, while invoking the revered name of the Agoojié Amazons. This initiative, the Queen Mothers argue, is completely illegitimate—no one has the right to appropriate such a sacred legacy for personal purposes. The history of the Agoojié is codified, revered, and must never be exploited.
Even more concerning, Désir Dòwòti has allegedly maneuvered her way into the High Council of Kings of Benin—an alarming move seen as an attempt to legitimize a false royalty and fabricate a lineage.
The Queen Mothers of Benin say enough is enough. They demand the absolute respect of traditional values, an end to identity manipulation, and recognition of authentic historical figures. Africa’s memory cannot be falsified—it must be defended.
Enough is enough.
