Which African kingdoms existed in the area before Benin became a French colony?

Before the region now known as Benin became a French colony in the late 19th century, the territory was home to a variety of independent states and kingdoms.123

In the south, the most prominent kingdoms included:
* Allada: A powerful state during the 16th and 17th centuries.12
* Dahomey: Originally a dependency of Allada, it emerged as a dominant, militaristic power in the 18th and 19th centuries after conquering Allada and Ouidah.43
* Porto-Novo: Founded by members of the Allada royal family, this coastal kingdom competed for control of Atlantic trade and resisted Dahomean authority.43

In the north, the Bariba people established several states, the most significant being the kingdom of Nikki, which was part of a broader confederacy. Other groups, such as the Somba in the northwest, did not form centralized kingdoms. Additionally, the region was influenced by external powers, such as the Oyo empire, which exerted control over Dahomey for a period during the 18th century.124