Place Chacha (Place des Enchères)
Place Chacha
A former slave auction square named after the Brazilian slave trader “Chacha” Francisco Félix de Souza, and the starting point of the Slave Route.
Place Chacha, also known as Auction Square, is said to be where captives were publicly sold under a large tree before being marched to the sea. The square takes its name from Francisco Félix de Souza, a Brazilian-born slave trader of the 19th century. The King of Dahomey granted him the title “Chacha” (chief agent). His family residence and tomb stood beside the square, and his descendants still live in Ouidah today. The square has a memorial and old trees. Today it is the starting point of the walking Slave Route, only a few hundred meters from the Temple of Pythons and the History Museum. Admission is free. To visit the De Souza family residence, you can ask a guide to arrange a visit and tip them.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Central Mosque of Ouidah
- Temple of Pythons, Ouidah
- Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Ouidah
- Villa Ajavon – Fondation Zinsou Museum of Contemporary Art
- Ouidah Museum of History
- Sacred Forest of Kpassè
- Route des Esclaves & Door of No Return, Ouidah