Benin

Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the northwest, and Niger to the northeast. The capital is Porto-Novo, while Cotonou is the largest city and economic center.

From the 17th to the 19th centuries, the area included the Kingdom of Dahomey and other states. France took control in 1894, and Benin gained independence in 1960. Since then, it has had different kinds of governments.

Today, Benin's official language is French, but many local languages are also spoken. The country is home to a mix of Christians, Muslims, and followers of African traditional religions. Benin is known for its rich cultural heritage and is a member of many international organizations, including the United Nations and the African Union.

Etymology

During French colonial rule, this country was called Dahomey. It changed its name to Benin in 1975 after a military coup. Benin is named after the Bight of Benin, a large bay near the country. The Bight of Benin is named after the Kingdom of Benin, which is now part of Nigeria.

History

Main article: History of Benin

Map of the Kingdom of Dahomey, 1793

Benin, once called Dahomey, has a rich history. Before 1600, the area had many different groups and small kingdoms. One of these was the Kingdom of Dahomey, which became strong in the 1700s. It had a special group of female soldiers called the Ahosi or "Dahomean Amazons."

In the 1800s, European countries became interested in the region for its resources. France took control in 1892 and later included it in French West Africa. Benin gained independence from France on August 1, 1960, led by President Hubert Maga.

After that, Benin had changes in leadership and government. It briefly called itself the People’s Republic of Benin and tried new ideas before returning to a more open government. Today, Benin holds regular elections and works on improving its economy and relationships with other countries.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Benin

Benin is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Burkina Faso and Niger to the north, Nigeria to the east, and the Bight of Benin to the south.

Benin has many different landscapes, including coastal plains, plateaus, and savannas. It has rivers and forests. There are parks such as Pendjari National Park, where animals like African bush elephants live. Benin has two rainy seasons and two dry seasons each year.

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Benin

Benin is a presidential representative democratic republic. The President of Benin is both the head of state and head of government. Executive power is with the government. Legislative power is shared between the government and the legislature. The judiciary is meant to be independent.

Benin's democracy has had some difficulties. Changes to election rules have concerned some people.

Main articles: Departments of Benin and Communes of Benin

Benin is divided into twelve departments. These departments are split into 77 communes. This division happened in 1999 when the original six departments were split into two.

Departments of Benin


Map key	Department	Capital	Population (2013)	Area (km²)	Population density (per km² in 2013)	Former Department	Region	Sub-Region
2	Alibori	Kandi	868,046	26,242	33.1	Borgou	North	North East
1	Atakora	Natitingou	769,337	20,499	37.5	Atakora	North	North West
10	Atlantique	Allada	1,396,548	3,233	432	Atlantique	South	South Centre
4	Borgou	Parakou	1,202,095	25,856	46.5	Borgou	North	North East
5	Collines	Dassa-Zoumé	716,558	13,931	51.4	Zou	South	South Centre
6	Kouffo	Aplahoué	741,895	2,404	308.6	Mono	South	South West
3	Donga	Djougou	542,605	11,126	48.8	Atakora	North	North West
11	Littoral	Cotonou	678,874	79	8,593.3	Atlantique	South	South Centre
9	Mono	Lokossa	495,307	1,605	308.6	Mono	South	South West
12	Ouémé	Porto-Novo	1,096,850	1,281	856.2	Ouémé	South	South East
8	Plateau	Pobè	624,146	3,264	191.2	Ouémé	South	South East
7	Zou	Abomey	851,623	5,243	162.4	Zou	South	South Centre

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Benin and Languages of Benin

Benin has about 11.5 million people, and most live in the south. There are about 42 different African ethnic groups in Benin. Some of the largest groups are the Goun and Fon, Adja and Mina, Yoruba, Bariba, and Fula.

Main article: Languages of Benin

A Celestial Church of Christ baptism in Cotonou. 5% of Benin's population belongs to this denomination, an African Initiated Church.

Many local languages are used in schools, with French used more as students get older. Beninese languages have their own special ways of writing that are different from French or English.

Main article: Religion in Benin

The main religions in Benin are Christianity and Islam. Many people also practice traditional religions like Vodun. Christianity is more common in the south and center, while Islam is more common in the north.

Main article: Education in Benin

Students

Benin has worked to make education more accessible. Many children go to primary school, and about half of them continue to secondary school. The government has spent money on education in recent years.

Main article: Health in Benin

Historical population
Year	1950	2000	2021
Population	2,200,000	6,800,000	13,000,000
±%	—	+209.1%	+91.2%

Largest cities or towns in Benin According to the 2013 Census
Rank	Name	Department	Pop.
1	Cotonou	Littoral	679,012
2	Porto-Novo	Ouémé	264,320
3	Parakou	Borgou	255,478
4	Godomey	Atlantique	253,262
5	Abomey-Calavi	Atlantique	117,824
6	Djougou	Donga	94,773
7	Bohicon	Zou	93,744
8	Ekpè	Ouémé	75,313
9	Abomey	Zou	67,885
10	Nikki	Borgou	66,109

Economy

Main article: Economy of Benin

Extensive agriculture in the north of Benin, near Djougou

Benin's economy depends on farming, making cotton, and trading with nearby countries. Cotton is very important and gives the country a lot of money. Farming, especially cotton, helps the economy grow. Services like trade and travel are also important because Benin is close to other countries.

Benin has some challenges, like using resources carefully and making sure people have enough power for their homes. The country is working to improve its businesses, bring in more tourists, and develop new technologies. Even with some growth, many people in Benin still have less money than they need.

Culture

Music group

Benin's culture is rich and varied. Beninese literature started as stories told by word of mouth. Later, the first Beninese novel, L'Esclave, was written by Félix Couchoro in 1929. The country's music grew after independence. It mixes local styles with music from Ghana, France, the United States, and Congo.

Beninese cuisine has fresh meals with many sauces. In the south, corn is often used to make dough with peanut or tomato sauces. Common foods are fish, chicken, beef, goat, and yams. They are cooked with vegetables or oils like palm or peanut. Popular fruits are mangoes, oranges, avocados, bananas, kiwi, and pineapples. Traditional sports in Benin include football, basketball, golf, cycling, baseball, softball, tennis, and rugby union.