Musée da Silva
Musée da Silva des Arts et de la Culture Afro-Brésilienne
A privately run museum of African-Brazilian culture, showcasing the architecture, furniture and lifestyle of people who returned from Brazil.
The Musée da Silva was opened by an Afro-Brazilian family in their colonial-era residence dating from the 1890s. It tells the story of the descendants of enslaved people trafficked to Brazil in the 19th century who returned to Benin's coast. The exhibits include old photographs, furniture, carriages, artefacts from successive Benin governments, and display panels on the slave trade. The courtyard also has a small library and a guesthouse. The displays are a bit cluttered, but the museum is very helpful for understanding Porto-Novo's Agudá community and the architectural style of the Grand Mosque. Admission is about 2,000 West African CFA francs.
Opening hours
About 09:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
- Ethnographic Museum of Porto-Novo
- Musée Honmè (Royal Palace of King Toffa)
- Jardin des Plantes et de la Nature
- Great Mosque of Porto-Novo
- Songhaï Centre
- Ouando Market
- Les Aguégués