Politics of Benin century until the colonial period, the Kingdom of Dahomey (whose borders encompassed more than present day Benin) was ruled by an "Oba". The French were the colonial power from 1892 to 1960, when independence was finally achieved. Between 1960 and 1972, a series of military coups in Benin (known until 1975 as the Republic of Dahomey) brought about many changes of government. The last of these brought Major Mathieu Kérékou to power as the head of a regime professing strict Marxist-Leninist principles. The Revolutionary Party of the People of Benin (PRPB) remained in complete power until the beginning of the
In Dahomey Dahkey Is a King", "When It's All Goin' Out and Nothin' Comin In" and "Good Evenin'", have been performed in other vaudevillian Broadway shows. In its entirety, "In Dahomey" featured plenty more secondary characters than its opening stage at the Harry de Jur theatre could comfortably hold. Walker and Williams would go on to produce two more musicals as the same act, "Williams and Walker In Abyssinia" and "Walker and Williams in Bandana Land", with different themes, staging and locales. Percy Grainger wrote a virtuosic concert rag entitled "In Dahomey (Cakewalk Smasher)", in which he blended tunes from Cook's show