ABOMEY

town, southern Benin (formerly Dahomey). Probably founded in the early 17th century, it soon became the capital of the kingdom of Abomey (later Dahomey), which dominated production and trade with the European enterprises on the Slave Coast until the late 19th century. The town is located in an area where palm nuts and peanuts (groundnuts) are grown; it is connected by road and rail to Cotonou, the nation's main commercial centre, and to Porto-Novo, the capital. The Royal Palace, the tombs of the kings, and a historical museum are maintained in Abomey. Pop. (1982 est.) 54,418.