Re: Toussaint Family
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In reply to:
Toussaint Family
Tonya Moye 7/23/02
Here is some information on his ethnic origin in Africa:
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http://www.biztravel.com/TRAVEL/SIT/sit_pages/10322.htmlhttp://www.biztravel.com/TRAVEL/SIT/sit_pages/10322.html
An hour's drive from COTONOU is OUIDAH, once a prominent exporter of slaves to the America's including Haiti, Brazil, Cuba and New Orleans, before falling to the Kingdom of DAHOMEY. The slave trade is long gone but artifacts and museums including the "GATE OF NO RETURN" stand as stark reminders of OUIDAH'S past.
Of significance is ABOMEY in the north which has close affinity with the YORUBAS of western Nigeria; ALLADA, the birthplace of TOUSSAINT L'OVERTURE, the liberator and first president of Haiti whose direct descendant is now the king of ALLADA.
It is easy to understand the varied cultural and artistic traditions of BENIN, after all, this small place is a collection of once independent kingdoms that eventually formed the Kingdom of DAHOMEY, now BENIN.