Benin
Also known as Dahomey, BEN, Republic of Benin, BJ
Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. Benin is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the northwest, and Niger to the northeast. The majority of its population lives on the southern coastline of the Bight of Benin, part of the Gulf of Guinea in the northernmost tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Porto-Novo, and the seat of government is in Cotonou, the most populous city and economic capital. Benin covers an area of , and its population in was estimated to be approximately million. It is
AI overview
Benin is a West African country bordered by Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with most of its population living along the southern coast on the Bight of Benin. The nation, formerly called Dahomey, has its capital in Porto-Novo and its largest city and economic center in Cotonou.
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Country
- Capital
- Porto-Novo
- Population
- 13,224,860
- Region
Travel guide
Understand
Benin, known as Dahomey until 1960, was one of the few countries to transition from Marxist rule to a democratic system in the 1990s. The country enjoys an island of stability and provides a complex heritage, handful of spiritual traditions and endless tropical landscapes.
Get in
thumb|375px|A map showing the visa requirements of Benin, with countries in green having visa-free access, and in yellow are required to obtain electronic visa
Do
Whale watching Check out sea turtles Shop for artisanal goods and handicrafts Make your own pottery: While in Se (close to Gran Popo) visit for a refreshing drink at North Pole or Victoria Palace. US Peace Corps volunteers say Se is one of Benin's best kept travel secrets, where you can take a tour of the local pottery production and make your own pottery. Observe Christmas: Benin admires a joyful Christmas, celebrated by Christian denominations and adherent religious followers. Typical local festive observances includes outdoor performances and key mass ceremonies.
Buy
Prices for goods purchased in a store, restaurant, hotel, bus tickets, etc. are non-negotiable, but almost everything else is. Depending on the item, it's not uncommon for foreigners to be quoted a price that is double the final purchase price.
You can find any type of African commodity all over Benin.
Eat
thumb|Aloko (fried plantains) and fish in Cotonou In every city/village one will find street vendors selling anything from beans and rice to grilled chicken, goat and turkey. Prices are nominal. But one must be careful, always choose a vendor whose food is still hot, and they have taken care to keep the bowls covered with a lid or a cloth.
Signature dishes Kuli-Kuli Boulettes de Poulet avec Sauce Rouge (Chicken Meatballs with Red Sauce)
Drink
The beer is cheap and good. Local pubs (buvettes) are on every corner in every neighborhood. You can get a bottle of local beer "La Béninoise", Heineken, Guinness, Castel and others depending on the bar. They all cost about CFA 250 for a small bottle or CFA 500 for a large bottle. In nightclubs beer is excessively expensive, around CFA 30,000 a bottle. So stick to the local pubs, or avoid buying beer at the nightclub. There is also the local vin de palme (palm wine), an alcoholic beverage that is made from the sap of the palm tree. A fermented palm liquor (Sodabi) is also available, it costs about CFA 2000 for a litre and it is very strong.
~40 min read
Article
33 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- History
- Pre-colonial
- Colonial
- Post-colonial
- 21st century
- Geography
- Wildlife
- Government and politics
- Administrative divisions
- Military
- Demographics
- Language
- Religion
- Education
- Health
- Economy
- Science and technology
- National policy framework
- Human and financial investment in research
- Research output
- Transportation
- Culture
- Arts
- Customary names
- Traditional authorities
- Cuisine
- Sports
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. Benin is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the northwest, and Niger to the northeast. The majority of its population lives on the southern coastline of the Bight of Benin, part of the Gulf of Guinea in the northernmost tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Porto-Novo, and the seat of government is in Cotonou, the most populous city and economic capital. Benin covers an area of 112,622 km (43,484 sq mi), and its population in 2021 was estimated to be approximately 13 million. It is a tropical country with an economy heavily dependent on agriculture and the exports of palm oil and cotton.
From the 17th to the 19th centuries, political entities in the area included the Kingdom of Dahomey, the city-state of Porto Novo, and other states to the north. France took over the territory in 1894, incorporating it into French West Africa as French Dahomey. In 1960, Dahomey gained full independence from France. As a sovereign state, Benin has had democratic governments, military coups, and military governments. A self-described Marxist–Leninist state called the People's Republic of Benin existed between 1975 and 1990. In 1991, it was replaced by the multi-party Republic of Benin.
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On the map
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Categories
1960 establishments in AfricaBeninCountries and territories where French is an official languageCountries in AfricaCountries in West AfricaEconomic Community of West African StatesFormer Portuguese coloniesFree-content attributionFree content from UNESCO PublishingLeast developed countriesMember states of the African UnionMember states of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie