Dahomey conquered Allada, the origin for the royal family according to oral tradition, and in 1727 he conquered Whydah. This increased size of the kingdom, particularly along the Atlantic coast, and increased power made Dahomey into a regional power. The result was near constant warfare with the main regional state, the Oyo Empire, from 1728 until 1740. The warfare with the Oyo empire resulted in Dahomey assuming a tributary status to the Oyo empire. Tegbesu, also spelled as Tegbessou, was King of Dahomey, in present-day Benin, from 1740 until 1774. Tegbesu was not the oldest son of King Agaja (1718–1740), but
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