Welcome, Erik ! I also didn`t like Cotonou at all, I was extremely bothered by the pollution caused by many thousand two-stroke mopeds, and the moist heat of Benin`s south didn`t help !
I didn`t visit the Abomey palace but the vodoo centre. Later Mr. Chelet told me horror stories about the vodoo priests killing babies on "vodoo day", the 10th of January ! Yes there is still cannibalism as well as slavery in Benin ! So I totally agree with You that Benin is genuine Africa, as black as can be ! I liked it.

Kalunga