ABOUT
Archive Hwènuxó is an accessible online archive of traditional oral folktales from southern Benin, West Africa, among the Fon people, collected by Beninese-American researcher Sophia Hounton over 11 months on a Fulbright research grant from 2025-2026.
Archive Hwènuxó could not have been made without the help of various community partners.
Dr. Romain Hounzandji, Professor and Advisor, Université d’Abomey-Calavi
Jerry Adjahi, EV Exchange and Alumni Coordinator, U.S. Embassy Cotonou
Afdal Oladikpikpo Tchoubade, Fongbe to French Written Translator
Mathieu Hounkandji, Abomey Region Guide and Cultural Mediator, Museum of Abomey
Hounnon Alexandre Adohounkla, Abomey Region Translator and Cultural Mediator, Museum of Abomey
Lorentus Houedote, Allada Region Guide and Expert
Françoise Hounton, Dédomè Region Guide and Expert
What is a hwènuxó?
(hwe-nu-ho)
"Hwènuxó" is a word from the Fon language of southern Benin, West Africa, that denotes a specific genre of folktale. "Hwènu" means "history," "time," or "era", while "xó" means "speech" or "talk." Together, they can roughly be translated as stories from the past.
Hwènuxó's are a long-standing Fon tradition. Most often told at night under the light of the moon, they are passed down from elders to children. Averaging around five minutes in length, they all feature very similar themes and archetypal characters, and always end in a moral lesson.
Hwènuxós are likened to a bird taking flight, always beginning first with the phrase "hwenuxó cé zɔ̀n mɔ̀ víín bó yí jɛ̀..." meaning, "my story swiftly takes flight and lands on..." followed by the main character or setting of the tale. Thus, one is to imagine the tale as a bird, taking off and flying through the air before landing on the story's setting, watching the events play out.
The Fon people and their sub-ethnic groups originated in Adja-Tado in modern-day Togo. The Fon creation story cites that a princess of Adja-Tado had children with a leopard. These children migrated to southern Benin in the 14th century. According to Dédomè oral tradition, their daughter, Nan Dédo, settled and founded Dédomè. Her brothers continued further east. Kokpon founded the Kingdom of Allada, Do-Aklin founded the Kingdom of Dahomey in Abomey, and Té-Agbanlin founded the Kingdom of Hogbonu in Porto-Novo. This project focuses on the first three major settlements of Adja, Ayizo, and Fon civilizations as core historic sources of oral tradition.
Selection of Regions in Benin
About the Researcher
Sophia Hounton is a Beninese-American Fulbright Researcher currently based in Cotonou, Benin. She earned her bachelor’s degree in International Studies and French from Seattle University. Her work explores linguistic imperialism, cultural heritage preservation, women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, and international development. In partnership with the Université d’Abomey-Calavi, her Fulbright research seeks to create a free online archive of traditional southern Beninese folktales to preserve the oral histories of women from the Fon ethnic group. Over the course of 11 months, she traveled throughout southern Benin, collecting nearly 100 stories to be made publicly available in three languages: Fongbe, French, and English, helping to document these stories for the Fon people, their descendants, and researchers.