Order of the Black Star

The Order of the Black Star was an order of knighthood established on 1 December 1889 at Porto-Novo by Toffa, future king of Dahomey. Approved and recognised by the French government on 30 July 1894, after the establishment of the new statutes of 30 August 1892, according this distinction to all those who worked to develop French influence on the west coast of Africa.

Classes

The order has five classes: Grand-Croix, Commandeur avec Plaque, Commandeur, Officier, and Chevalier.

The order was deprecated by decree on 3 December 1963, and superseded by the Ordre National du Mérite. Extant members of the order are permitted to wear their original decorations.