Bight of Benin

The Bight of Benin, also called the Bay of Benin, is a large curve of water along the western coast of Africa. It is found in the Gulf of Guinea area, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. This special shape of the coastline has been important for many years, helping ships and boats move along the coast. The Bight of Benin touches several countries and has played a role in the history and natural resources of the region.

Geography

The Bight of Benin was named for the Kingdom of Benin in modern-day Nigeria. It stretches eastward for about 640 kilometres (400 mi) from Cape St. Paul to the Nun outlet of the Niger River.

The area became known as the Slave Coast because of its history with the Atlantic slave trade. Many kingdoms in the region were involved in this trade, which grew even larger when European countries began colonizing the Americas. Records from the 1640s show that about 1,200 people were taken each year from this area. Later, new routes allowed the trade to increase.

Cultural references

The Bight of Benin has a long history connected to difficult times in the past. Because of health risks and dangers, old sailors created rhymes to warn others. One famous rhyme says:

Beware, beware the Bight of the Benin, for few come out though many go in.

These rhymes remind us of the challenges sailors faced long ago. The area appears in many stories and books by famous writers, showing its importance in history and literature. Writers have used the Bight of Benin in their tales set in places like Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria.

History

On 1 February 1852, the British created a protected area called the Bight of Benin. This area was overseen by special leaders known as Consuls. The region and the nearby country of Benin were named after an old kingdom called the Kingdom of Benin, which stretched from a place called Cape St. Paul to where the River Niger meets the sea.

Later, on 6 August 1861, the Bight of Benin was combined with another protected area called the Bight of Biafra. Together, they formed a larger British protected area that eventually became part of Nigeria.

References and sources

References

Sources

• WorldStatesmen- Southern Nigeria