Benin

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Republic of Benin

République du Bénin  (French)
Orilẹ-ede Benin  (Yoruba)
Motto: 
  • "Fraternité, Justice, Travail" (French)
  • "Fraternity, Justice, Labour"
Anthem: 
Location of  Benin  (dark green)
Location of  Benin  (dark green)
CapitalPorto-Novoa
Largest cityCotonou
Official languagesFrench
National languages
List:
Ethnic groups
(2013 Census[1])
Religion
(2015)[2]
Demonym(s)
  • Beninese
GovernmentUnitary presidential republic
• President
Patrice Talon
Louis Vlavonou[3]
LegislatureNational Assembly
Independence
• Republic of Dahomey established
11 December 1958
• from France
1 August 1960
Area
• Total
114,763 km2 (44,310 sq mi)[4] (100th)
• Water (%)
0.4%
Population
• 2019 estimate
11,733,059 (78th)
• 2013 census
10,008,749[5]
• Density
94.8/km2 (245.5/sq mi) (120th)
GDP (PPP)2019 estimate
• Total
$29.918 billion[6] (137th)
• Per capita
$2,552[6] (163rd)
GDP (nominal)2019 estimate
• Total
$11.386 billion[6] (141st)
• Per capita
$971[6] (163rd)
Gini (2015)Negative increase 47.8[7]
high
HDI (2019)Increase 0.545[8]
low · 158th
CurrencyWest African CFA franc (XOF)
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)
Driving sideright
Calling code+229
ISO 3166 codeBJ
Internet TLD.bj
  1. Cotonou is the seat of government.

Benin (officially called the Republic of Benin) is a country in Africa. The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo. The government is based in Cotonou, the country's largest city. Most people live on the small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin.[9]

Because Benin was colonized by France and is still close to it, the official language of Benin is French. Languages such as Fon and Yoruba are commonly spoken. The largest religious group in Benin is Roman Catholicism. This is followed closely by Islam, Vodun, and Protestantism.

Benin is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, La Francophonie, the Community of Sahel-Saharan States, the African Petroleum Producers Association and the Niger Basin Authority.[10]

From the 17th to the 19th century, Benin was ruled by the Kingdom of Dahomey. It was called the Slave Coast by white people from as early as the 17th century, because of the large number of slaves shipped from Porto-Novo, Cotonou, and other ports to European colonies in the Americas.

After slavery was made illegal, France fought a war against Dahomey and took over the kingdom. They renamed it French Dahomey. In 1960, Dahomey gained official independence from France.[11] From 1972 to 1990 a Marxist–Leninist state called the People's Republic of Benin existed. The current Republic of Benin was formed in 1991.[11]

Geography[change | change source]

Benin is a narrow country in west Africa. The country measures about 325 km (202 mi) at its widest point. It is between the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer. Benin 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.

The highest point is Mont Sokbaro at 658 m (2,159 ft).

Reserve du W du Niger and Pendjari National Park attract tourists who want to see elephants, lions, antelopes, hippos, and monkeys.[12] Historically Benin has been a home for the endangered Painted Hunting Dog, Lycaon pictus;[13]

Benin's climate is hot and humid. Yearly rainfall in the coastal area averages 1300 mm or about 51 inches. Benin has two rainy and two dry seasons per year. The main rainy season is from April to late July, with a shorter less strong rainy period from late September to November. The main dry season is from December to April, with a short cooler dry season from late July to early September. In Cotonou, the average maximum temperature is 31 °C (87.8 °F); the minimum is 24 °C (75.2 °F).

Departments[change | change source]

See also: List of cities in Benin

Benin is divided into 12 Departments. Then it is divided into 77 communes.

  1. Alibori
  2. Atakora
  3. Atlantique
  4. Borgou
  5. Collines
  6. Donga
  7. Kouffo
  8. Littoral
  9. Mono
  10. Ouémé
  11. Plateau
  12. Zou

Culture[change | change source]

Arts[change | change source]

Beninese literature had a strong oral tradition long before French became the main language.[14] Felix Couchoro wrote the first Beninese novel, L'Esclave in 1929.

Singer Angélique Kidjo and actor Djimon Hounsou were both born in Cotonou, Benin. Composer Wally Badarou and singer Gnonnas Pedro are also from Benin.

Religion[change | change source]

In the 2010 census, 27.2% of the population of Benin were Christian, 24.4% were Muslim, 17.3% practiced Vodun, 6% other traditional local religious groups, 1.9% other religious groups, and 6.5% have no religious affiliation.[15]

Education[change | change source]

The literacy rate in Benin is one of the lowest in the world. In 2002 it was said to be 34.7%.[16] At one time the education system was not free.[17]

Cuisine[change | change source]

Beninese cuisine is known in Africa for its exotic ingredients and flavorful dishes. Beninese cuisine has lots of fresh meals with a variety of sauces. In southern Benin cuisine, the most common ingredient is corn. It is often used to prepare dough which is mainly eaten with peanut- or tomato-based sauces. Fish and chicken are the most common meats used in southern Beninese cuisine however Beef, goat, and bush rat are also eaten. The main food in northern Benin is yams. The northern provinces use beef and pork meat which is fried in palm or peanut oil or cooked in sauces. Cheese is used in some dishes. Couscous, rice, and beans are commonly eaten, along with fruits such as mangoes, oranges, avocados, bananas, kiwi fruit, and pineapples.[18]

Meat is usually expensive. Meals are usually light on meat and generous on vegetable fat. Smoked fish is commonly prepared in Benin. Many people have outdoor mud stoves for cooking.[18]

References[change | change source]

  1. ↑ "PRINCIPAUX INDICATEURS SOCIO DEMOGRAPHIQUES ET ECONOMIQUES" (PDF). www.insae-bj.org (in French). INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA STATISTIQUE ET DE L’ANALYSE ECONOMIQUE.
  2. ↑ http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/benin/religious_demography#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year = 2010
  3. ↑ "Benin - National Assembly". New Parline: the IPU’s Open Data Platform (beta). 5 July 2018.
  4. ↑ Annuaire statistique 2010 (PDF) (Report) (in French). INSAE. 2012. p. 49. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "BENIN en Chiffres" [BENIN in Figures]. INSAE (in French). Archived from the original on 17 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2018". IMF.org. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  7. ↑ "GINI index (World Bank estimate)". databank.worldbank.org. World Bank. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  8. ↑ Human Development Report 2020 The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 15 December 2020. pp. 343–346. ISBN 978-92-1-126442-5. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  9. ↑ R. H. Hughes, J. S. Hughes. A directory of African wetlands, p. 301. IUCN, 1992. ISBN 2-88032-949-3
  10. ↑ "Benin – International Cooperation". Nation Encyclopedia (2010-06-29).
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Ibp Usa. Global Logistics Assessments Reports Handbook: Strategic Transportation and Customs Information for Selected Countries, p. 85. Int'l Business Publications, 2008. ISBN 0-7397-6603-1
  12. ↑ "Background Note: Benin". U.S. Department of State (June 2008).
  13. ↑ C. Michael Hogan. 2009. Painted Hunting Dog: Lycaon pictus, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg Archived 2010-12-09 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ "Benin". Archived from the original on 2011-08-13. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
  15. ↑ International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Benin. United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (September 14, 2007). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  16. ↑ Literacy. Cia.gov. Retrieved on 2012-08-15.
  17. ↑ "Benin". Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. United States Department of State. February 23, 2001. section 5. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Beninese Cuisine." Wikia Recipes Wiki. Accessed June 2011.

Other websites[change | change source]

  • Media related to Benin at Wikimedia Commons
  • Benin travel guide from Wikivoyage
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