Born in the city of
Ouidah,
Benin (formerly Dahomey), Bhêly-Quenum had his primary education in Benin from 1938 to 1944, after which he traveled throughout his native country,
Nigeria, his maternal grandmother's country, and
Ghana, where he learned English. In 1948, he went to France and undertook his secondary studies at the College Littré, in
Avranches,
Normandy (Manche). ==Works==