Ouidah, Benin. Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of Ouidah. Born in Ronco Scrivia, Italy, in 1830, Father Francesco Borghero (1830–1892) was the first Catholic missionary to set foot in Dahomey. A member of the Society of African Missions (SMA), he landed in Ouidah on 18 April 1861 alongside Father Fernandez, following the death of Father Edde in Freetown. Over four years, he founded the missions of Ouidah and Porto Novo, explored the Gulf of Guinea coastline and kept a valuable field journal. Recalled to Europe in 1865 as the sole survivor of all missionaries sent since 1861, he retired to Italy where he died in 1892. His bust honours the founder of the Catholic Church in Benin.

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Ouidah

Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of Ouidah

Father Francesco Borghero

Benin, Ouidah, Francesco Borghero, missionary, SMA, Society of African Missions, first missionary, Dahomey, 1861, Catholicism, bust, portrait, commemorative sculpture, basilica, religious heritage, West Africa, evangelisation, Ronco Scrivia, Italy, 19th century; Tarek Charara,Kaleidos;Kaleidos images;La parole à l'image;Places of worship

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Father Francesco Borghero

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Tarek Charara

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Ouidah, Benin. Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of Ouidah. Born in Ronco Scrivia, Italy, in 1830, Father Francesco Borghero (1830–1892) was the first Catholic missionary to set foot in Dahomey. A member of the Society of African Missions (SMA), he landed in Ouidah on 18 April 1861 alongside Father Fernandez, following the death of Father Edde in Freetown. Over four years, he founded the missions of Ouidah and Porto-Novo, explored the Gulf of Guinea coastline and kept a valuable field journal. Recalled to Europe in 1865 as the sole survivor of all missionaries sent since 1861, he retired to Italy where he died in 1892. His bust honours the founder of the Catholic Church in Benin.

Photographer:

Tarek Charara

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