Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo"

Kossola continues where he left off in Chapter 4. When the young Kossola received his peacock feather, he listened closely to the chief and the elders as they spoke. Kossola enjoyed looking at pretty girls in the market, and one day he found one he wanted to marry. He told his parents, and they went to the girl’s family to request that she marry Kossola when they’re older.

One day in the market, three men from Dahomey came to the village to speak to King Akia’on. They asked the king if he’d heard of their king and the many strong names he goes by, like “Lion of Lions.” They relayed the message from their king that he demanded half of the crops in Takkoi—or Dahomey would wage war on them. In response, King Akia’on asked if their king had heard of him and all his strong names, such as “Mouth of de Leopard.” His message for their king was that the crops belong to the people, so he could send them anywhere. This message displeased the king of Dahomey, but he hesitated to start a war because of King Akia’on’s strength. The king of Dahomey had gained great wealth from raiding other villages and capturing slaves.