In 1812 Francisco Manoel da Silva escaping a life of poverty in Brazil sailed to the African kingdom of Dahomey determined to make his fortune in the slave trade. Armed with nothing but an iron will he became a man of substance in Ouidah & the founder of a remarkable dynasty. His one remaining ambition is to return to Brazil in triumph but his friendship with the mad mercurial king of Dahomey is fraught with danger & threatens his dream.