Akaba of Dahomey

Akaba
King of Dahomey
Symbol of Akaba's chameleon on Place Goho in Abomey in 2020.
Reign1685–1716
PredecessorHouegbadja
SuccessorAgaja (or Hangbe)
Died1716
Ouémé River Valley
HouseAladaxonou
FatherHouegbadja

Akaba also known as Adahunzo or Housseou was an early King of the Kingdom of Dahomey, in present-day Benin, from 1685 until c.1716. King Houegbadja had created the basic structure of the kingdom on the Abomey plateau. His first children were the twins of Akaba and Hangbe and they were followed by another son of Houegbadja who would become King Agaja. As the oldest son, Akaba became the king upon Houegbadja's death and ruled until 1716 when he died during battle in the Ouémé River Valley, either of small pox or in battle. When he died his sister, Hangbe, became the ruler and began preparing Akaba's oldest son, Agbo Sassa, for the throne. In 1718, Agaja, the next oldest son after Akaba from Houegbadja, fought with Agbo Sassa and Hangbe and became the next King of Dahomey.