Alexis Adandé

Alexis Bertrand Agunmaro Adandé (born 7 April 1949) is an archaeologist from Benin, who has been key to the foundation of the discipline in the country.

Biography Alexis Bertrand Agunmaro Adandé was born on 7 April 1949 in Dakar, Senegal. His father was Alexandre Adandé who was key to the organisation of the First World Festival of Negro Arts in 1969. Between 1954 and 1968 he studied at primary and secondary levels in Dakar, and Porto-Novo. He was Executive Director of the West African Museums Programme from 1995 to 2001. In 2017 he gave a keynote address at the conference of the West African Archaeological Association entitled: "Nous, archéologues africains, qui servons-nous?" / " We, African Archaeologists, who do we Serve?"

Excavations Adandé has directed many excavations in Benin, these include: the Allada region (1981-2); Mono Valley Rescue Project (1990-3); Ouidah (1991); Ouessè Archaeological Research Project Manager (1992); co-led a project on Beninese-Danish archaeology (2002-04). He was the first archaeologist to conduct well-documented excavations at Togoudo Awutè Allada, which formed his doctoral research. He was part of the Archaeological Research Team of Benin which conducted the first comprehensive survey of monuments in Benin.

Museums In 1988 Adandé curated the first archaeological exhibition in Benin: “Ten years of archaeological research in Benin”, which was held on the campus of Abomey-Calavi and Honmè Museum. In 2002 he co-edited with Emmanuel Arinze Museums and Urban Culture in West Africa. He has also collaborated with UNESCO to deliver training on how to nominate places for World Heritage Site status.