Language: French
Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF)
Calling Code: 229
Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, is a West
African state, which covers an area of 114,763 km2 and extends over
700 km, from the Niger River in the north to the Atlantic coast in
the south. Benin had 13,301,694 inhabitants in 2021. The country is
part of the ECOWAS member states and has as neighbors Togo to the
west, Nigeria to the east, Niger to the northeast and Burkina Faso
to the northwest.
Benin gained full independence on August 1,
1960, under the name of the Republic of Dahomey. The powers were
transmitted to President Hubert Koutoukou Maga by the French
Minister of State Louis Jacquinot. In 1972, the officer Mathieu
Kérékou takes power: in 1974 he adopts Marxism-Leninism as the
official ideology of the government and, in 1975, renames the
country People's Republic of Benin. At the end of the 1980s,
internal struggles of the Communist Party of Benin and serious
economic difficulties led to the end of the regime: Benin began a
democratic transition process and, in 1990, adopted a new
Constitution. This democratic transition is ensured by Nicéphore
Soglo, former Africa Director of the World Bank. The name Benin is
retained, the country becoming simply the Republic of Benin. Mathieu
Kérékou, defeated in the elections by Nicéphore Soglo in 1991,
abandons power. He returned democratically by the ballot box in 1996
and did not restore the dictatorship. He governed the country until
2006.
The official capital is Porto-Novo (named Hogbonou by
the Goun and Adjatchè by the Yoruba), Cotonou being the economic
capital.
Benin has French as its official language and the
CFA franc as its currency. The political regime of Benin is of the
presidential type and the current president of the Republic is the
businessman Patrice Talon, who succeeded Boni Yayi during the March
2016 election: the handover of power was held on April 6, 2016 at
the Marina Palace in Cotonou. Benin is a member of several
international organizations, including the International
Organization of La Francophonie and the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation.
Pendjari National Park situated in the Northwest corner of Benin. This nature reserve gets its name from Pendjari River that flows through its territory.
W National Park that is shared between Benin, Niger and Burkina Faso. This nature reserve gets its name from a river Niger that runs through protected reserve. Its shape here looks like letter "W", thus it gets the name.
Benin, a small country in the Gulf of Guinea, is above
all an immense cultural heritage with a rich and tumultuous history,
prior to the colonial presence, with its varied traditions (a good forty
ethnic groups) and its cult of vodoun. During the colonial period and
until 1990, Benin underwent several name changes. Indeed, before the
colonial period around the twentieth century, it was called the colony
of Dahomey, and became independent Dahomey from 1960 to 1972. From 1972
to 1990 Benin is called the People's Republic of Benin and becomes the
Republic of Benin 1990 to this day.
The important dates that have
marked the history of Dahomey:
1650: the English build a fort in
Ouidah
1664: first installation of missionaries in Judah (Ouidah),
the Breton Capuchins,
1704: France receives permission to build a
port in Ouidah
1752: the Portuguese founded Porto-Novo
1863: the
French establish their protectorate over Porto-Novo
june 22, 1894:
the country becomes "the French Colony of Dahomey and its dependencies",
by decree of the President of the French Republic, Marie-François
Sadi-Carnot.
july 23, 1864: a Franco-German convention determines the
Dahomey – Togo border
june 14, 1898: a Franco-British agreement
specifies the borders of Dahomey and Nigeria
december 18, 1904:
Dahomey is incorporated into the AOF (French West Africa)
december 4,
1958: the Republic of Dahomey is proclaimed
august 1, 1960: Dahomey
becomes an independent state. He is a member of the UN and many
international organizations.
october 26, 1972: Great revolutionary
movement of national liberation
november 30, 1975: Dahomey becomes
the People's Republic of Benin
february 28, 1990: end of the
Marxist-Leninist period, creation of the Republic of Benin
Requirements before travelling
Every European
traveler needs a visa. For tourist purposes, since May 1, 2018, there is
only eVisa on the corresponding portal. Applications can be submitted
8-90 days before planned entry. The visa-on-arrival is invalid.
The embassies in Germany and Austria have now been closed, visas for
purposes other than tourism are no longer available.
Consulate of
the Embassy of Geneva, Chemin du Petit-Saconnex, 28, 1209 Genève. Tel.:
+41 22 906 84 61 . Open: Mon.-Early. 9.00-13.00, 14.00-17.00.
Residence extensions must be applied for in the capital Cotonou at the
Direction de l'immigration.
Customs regulation
Free
quantities:
200 Cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 25 cigars or 250 g of
tobacco.
1 Bottle of wine and 1 bottle of brandy.
500 ml of eau de
toilette or 250 ml of perfume.
Aircraft
The international
airport is located in Cotonou.
Bus
Getting there by bus is
quite unproblematic. From Togo you can take a bush taxi to Djougou via
Kara several times a day. The border crossing at Lomé to Cotonou is even
better frequented, but the northern one is preferable, since Lomé is
partly criminal.
From Burkina Faso, entry is also easy, as a
paved road leads from the north to the south. There are buses and bush
taxis from Tangieta to Cotonou. The connection from Niger is quite
"easy", because buses run here. Entering Nigeria can be dangerous.
Car/Motorcycle/Bicycle
A large part of the gasoline sold at
street stalls, often in bottles, is smuggled from Nigeria and not
infrequently adulterated. At gas stations they paid Oct. In 2018, 575
CFA/l for petrol and 590 CFA/l for diesel, a good 20% more than in Togo
and over twice the price in Nigeria.
Nigerian
See the
description in the said country article. 8
Togo
The handling
in Hilacondji (6° 14' 26" N 1° 37' 44" O) is problem-free on both sides
for African conditions. The yellow fever vaccination is controlled in
each case. Those who do not yet have a Togolese visa will receive this
for 15000 CFA, after filling out the appropriate form. It is valid for 7
days and can be extended for a fee at the service of the Etrangers et
Passeports immeuble GTA-C2A, Lomé.
If you use the small border
crossing near Boukoumbé (10° 9' 26" N 1° 5' 15" E) on the RN7, it should
be noted that the border police clearance on the Benin side must be done
by the police in Natitingou (51 km).
Burkina Faso
Border
crossing near Porga (10° 59' 48" N 0° 58' 59" O). (There is a bus tgl.
directly from/to Cotonou with ATT. Otherwise by bus taxi from Tanguiéta,
2500 CFA).
The Burkina Faso border station (11°1' 14" N 0°56' 29"O)
is about a 20-minute drive away. This is probably due to the fact that a
small area of the border triangle is disputed between the riparian
states.
Note the time zone difference between the two countries.
Niger
On the Nigerian side of the Niger River is the village of
Konbo / Gaya (11° 52' 58" N 3° 23' 51" O) (285 km from Niamey) opposite
in Benin Malanville (11° 51' 53" N 3° 23' 34" O). The 730 km long road
from here to Cotonou is probably the best long-distance road in the
country, which is due to the fact that a large part of the Niger's
imports come through here, especially because the crime in the port of
Lagos is extreme.
The easiest way to get around the big cities,
especially in Cotonou, is to use motorcycle taxis, commonly called
"zémidjans" (or "kèkènon", in the local dialect), abbreviated "zém".
They are practical, easily recognizable thanks to their yellow shirt,
and sneak almost everywhere. Be careful all the same, sometimes you have
to have a good heart, bring your helmet and not be too offended by the
few more or less daring violations of the highway code! Prices often
vary between 100 and 500 XOF (~€ 0.76 - course from 05/25/2024),
depending on the distance traveled and the accessibility of the
destination.Intercity transport is the prerogative of bush taxis. Very
attractive prices, but be careful to negotiate well!
To travel in
Benin by car, coach or taxi, the hands are substituted for the turn
signals when the driver is about to change direction even if this way
has nothing to do with the rules of the road has, however, become a
norm, a habit and even a culture.il must do the hand despite the
flashing
By car
They are recognizable by their yellow and
green color and do not have a counter. The pricing is negotiated before
getting into the vehicle. As in many African countries, the price for a
European is much higher than the price of an African. Do not hesitate to
bargain.
There are private mini-buses, named Tokpa-tokpa. The
affordable and unique price regardless of the route makes it the means
of mass transport for the local population. Nevertheless, you must be
prepared to find yourself crowded and have to get off at each stop to
let the other people get on or off. On the other hand, take them only
following the advice of a local friend who knows the routes. Indeed, no
infrastructure or plan exists and each Tokpa-Tokpa makes its own
journey. We know which Tokpa-Tokpa to take thanks to the crier who is
the attendant at the door and at the payment and who repeats by shouting
at each door opening, the final destination. It is based on this
destination that you know if the Tokpa-Tokpa passes through the place
where you want to go. Sometimes it takes 2 or 3 Tokpa-Tokpa to reach
your destination. The stops are usually the crossings or the squares (it
is often the fair of empagne to have its place) but it is quite possible
to ask that the Tokpa-Tokpa stops at a specific point (if it is on the
way). The Tokpa-Tokpa is really worth trying at least once. We must
admit that a European who takes a Tokpa-Tokpa is a rather rare thing and
we will look at you with a surprised air but, the Beninese being a very
welcoming people, everything will turn out very well. You can travel
freely either with your own car or with that of a rental agency. Foreign
driving licenses are not a problem for a short stay. But for security
reasons, it is prudent to avoid intercity night trips, and even traffic
in the city in sensitive or uncrowded areas, due to the risk of night
attack by the "road cutters" the local bandits. It is necessary to avoid
venturing on unpaved secondary roads, or tracks, especially during the
rainy season from July to September, due to the risks of bogging, broken
bridges and roads submerged by the overflow of rivers. The road in Benin
is particularly dangerous, due to the driving mode, the poor quality of
the vehicles and the track (potholes). It is therefore necessary to be
particularly vigilant behind the wheel, especially when crossing
villages. In the event of an accident, do not stop, but reach the
nearest police or gendarmerie station in order to inform them of the
accident.
By taxi
There are several taxi companies that you
can call, including the national company Benin Taxi which offers a fast
and quality service in the south since the year 2017.
By coach
We can call on tour operators or specialized agencies, especially in
Cotonou, which often offer a quality service with guides and optional
drivers.
There are several public transport companies, in
particular the buses of the Benafrik company, which make round trips on
the main roads of Cotonou, to the neighboring cities. Other public
transport companies such as The post office, Ayina transport and
tourism, Comfort Lines etc... are specialized in long-distance transport
to municipalities more or less distant from Cotonou.
There are
also private mini-buses, named Tokpa-tokpa (Tokpa which is the
abbreviation of the largest market in Benin: Dantokpa). All tokpa-tokpa
leave different cities in the south of the country having for
destination the international market of Antokpa. The prices are
affordable and vary according to the city of your departure. The price
is unique regardless of your position in each city covered by the
tokpa-tokpa. Note that the tokpa-tokpa only circulate on the main roads
of the southern cities. It is a means of mass transportation of the
local population. It is to be taken and guarantees a total change of
scenery. Nevertheless, you must be prepared to find yourself crowded and
have to get off at each stop to let the other people get on or off. On
the other hand, take them only following the advice of a local friend
who knows the routes. Indeed, no infrastructure or plan exists and each
tokpa-tokpa makes its own journey. We know which tokpa-tokpa to take
thanks to the crier who assists the driver and that only when the
Tokpa-tokpa leaves the Dantokpa market or the city of Cotonou. Indeed,
the attendant at the door and at the payment repeats shouting at each
door opening, the final destination. It is based on this destination
that you know if the tokpa-tokpa passes through the place where you want
to go. Sometimes it takes 2 or 3 tokpa-tokpa to reach your destination.
The stops are usually the crossings or the squares (it is often the fair
of empagne to have its place) but it is quite possible to ask that the
tokpa-tokpa stops at a specific point (if it is on the way). The
tokpa-tokpa is really worth trying at least once. We must admit that a
European who takes a tokpa-tokpa is a rather rare thing and we will look
at you with a surprised air, but the Beninese are a very welcoming
people, everything will turn out very well.
By train
There is
a railway line built at the time of French colonization, which was
supposed to connect Cotonou to Niamey in Niger. She stopped in Parakou.
Passenger trains have no longer served Parakou for a long time. The
renovation projects of the line remain in the boxes, and only rare
freight trains would still run, between the port of Cotonou, and the
Parakou station So don't plan to take a train to Parakou!
By boat
To get to the lake city of Ganvié, the pier is located in Abomey-Calavi.
The official currency of the countries forming the
West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) is the CFA franc. The
issuing institution is the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO).
The CFA franc is written abbreviated as FCFA or F CFA, and its ISO
code is XOF. The exchange rate of the CFA franc was 1 XOF (~€0 - price
of 05/25/2024) = 0.01 FRF which gives a fixed parity with the euro of €
1 = 655.957 XOF (~ €1 - price of 05/25/2024) but banks and exchange
offices can apply a commission on the transaction.
On each coin
and on the front of the banknotes is represented the BCEAO logo, a
stylized sawfish. This one represents a bronze figurine formerly used by
the Akan to weigh gold.
The member countries of the Economic and
Monetary Community of Central Africa use another CFA franc whose code is
XAF.
Almost everything is bought in Cotonou, mainly at the
Dantokpa market which with its 22 hours is the largest open-air market
in West Africa. Of course, it is customary to negotiate firmly when
making a purchase.
Many dishes are based on rice, vegetables,
corn flour, yam, cassava or pasta. Meat (sheep, pigs, game) is often
served mixed with a seasoned and relatively spicy sauce. In fishing
villages, you can mainly find dried fish (the smell is strong, but the
taste is less so).
Tropical fruits are delicious, and inexpensive
during their season.
There are more and more "Western-style" restaurants in Benin, mainly in Cotonou. The local use, however, is to eat in "maquis", medium-range restaurants. We mainly offer fish and rice at a very reasonable price (about 2 to 5 € per meal).
The Beninese cuisine is mainly based on corn paste in
the south of the country and yam in the north. Tasting some traditional
dishes of Benin is an excellent way to make the first encounters with
the Beninese culture and can leave you with unforgettable memories.
The Mantindjan: Taking its origin from the southern part of Benin,
this sauce is a real mixture of pre-cooked hoe and multiple meats and
cow cheese so that you no longer find room on the plate. It is eaten
accompanied by either the dough or akassa or sometimes even white rice
it is also delicious.
The BlocOtto: It is prepared with beef legs, it
is a sauce that also helps you to eat the different pasta from Benin.
Just like the Mantindjan it is consumed accompanied either by the dough
or by akassa or sometimes even white rice it is also very interesting..
Rice with potato fries: it is a mixture of seasoned rice and some fried
potatoes accompanied by either a piece of chicken meat or sea fish. It
is in great demand on the Beninese cuisine market.
Leaf and apple
salad: it is a combination of green salad and apple fries. It is also
accompanied by chopped carrot and spaghetti. We add bread to it as a
side dish.
The Monyo: it is a hot or cold mixture of tomato, chili
and meat or fish to accompany the different pastas in Benin. It is
better if you are not used to consuming non-raw foods to order it cooked
and well prepared to boil to avoid diseases such as typhoid fever.
The dish of Amiwo: Also called djewo in the Fon language salted dough
the Amiwo is a dish of corn dough already seasoned with sauce to be
consumed as such. This authentic Beninese cuisine is one of the most
admired dishes in almost all regions of the country. This dish is often
accompanied by poultry meat such as chicken meat, guinea fowl or turkey
meat, fried fish, sheep meat or even beef.
Ablo or rice cake: A
Beninese cuisine made from rice flour. Rice can be shaped in various
ways. We can cook rice paste, rice with tomato sauce or even rice with
legumes (pre-cooked holly)
Babo mainly in the South of Benin but also
in some restaurants or at street vendors in some cities of deep Benin
such as Parakou, Natitingou, Boukombé and even Tanguiéta. Fried fish and
Beninese cuisine
It must be accompanied by fried fish and seasoned
with frying if we want to keep its authenticity. Hummmmm what a
delight??? I'm salivating while writing this article…
The dish of
watché: The watché is a mixture of rice and beans seasoned with tomato
frying or fried chili pepper in the north of Benin. It can be
accompanied with Fulani cheese, fried meat or fish.
the watché is a
dish that is consumed in the morning or at noon because it is quite
energetic and its digestion takes a little time. But it is not uncommon
to see people consuming it in the evening.
Wassawassa is a Beninese
cuisine from the north of Benin made with yam or cassava and seasoned
with frying. Most often in the Bassila region it is accompanied with
cheese or animal skin called (kpaman in the Fongbe language but in other
regions such as in the city of Natitingou or Parakou, it will be soy
cheese, animal skin or fried fish.
The gbo pkètè is a dish of the
Beninese cuisine of the zou in the southern region of Benin is obtained
by recovering the blood of the sheep and transforming it into a soup
that will be used to accompany akassa balls or gari dough.
Toubani:
Prepared in the north of Benin, toubani is made with bean flour or
cassava flour. It is quite appetizing and lighter when it is made with
bean flour. It is a main dish that should be consumed warm and
especially in the morning when you know that you need energy for your
various activities of the day. It is accompanied by dry chili pepper and
oil. That's how he keeps his authenticity that we recognize him. It is
sold by box and costs between 100 CFA francs per box and sometimes 200
Cfa francs for large boxes.
The accompaniments of dishes in Benin are in most
cases starchy foods or cereals, the basis of the Beninese cuisine. Its
compositions and colors vary from one region to another.
We can
mention: The dough in the form of mashed potatoes made from flour (corn,
cassava, yam, semolina, wheat, millet) and accompanied by different
varieties of spicy sauce with a different taste depending on the
ingredients (based on local spinach, Okra, tomato, Sesame, mahogany
nuts.)
In the Beninese culture, dessert is served after a meal unlike modern Western culture where it is served at the beginning of the meal. It usually consists of sweet foods including: Juices made in Benin such as baobab juice made from the fruits of the baobab tree and Bissap juices made with bissap leaves. Pineapple fritters and the donut called Yovo doko can also be used as a desert.
Snacks in Benin as elsewhere is very important and are
usually taken in the afternoon around 16 o'clock when you can swallow
any kind of meal.
At 25 FCFA per piece, that is to say 4 euro
cents, that is to say 8 pieces / people are usually enough for a correct
snack in Benin.
Here are some foods that it is possible to take
in Benin as a snack.
Tevi = fried sliced yams with chilli
Ata =
white bean donut
Ata kpo Tévi (Ata + Tévi)
Aloko = fried plantains
(also makes a side dish in some dishes)
Talé Talé = donuts made with
ripe bananas and flour
Yovo doko (donut made from wheat flour) is a
sweet snack. It is eaten alone or with porridge.
Many bars and nightclubs in Cotonou, less in the rest
of the country.
The local alcohol is called Sodabi. It is an
inexpensive palm alcohol. Many villages distill their own alcohol. The
quality of Sodabi is therefore very variable depending on the place of
purchase. You can also drink millet beer. It is a fermented beer, which
heats up for long hours and is drunk lukewarm. Here too, the quality is
very variable.
In Benin, the correct dwellings cost for an apartment of the type Bedroom with bed - living room - kitchen + Shower about 35 to 60 thousand Xof or about 53 - 100 € In the major cities of the country. But for villa-type apartments it usually costs between 150,800 thousand Xof depending on the area, or about 230 - 1250 €. All the aforementioned amounts are monthly. Dating made in October 2020
Cotonou is home to several Coulibaly high schools, private colleges, and public high schools such as the National High School. It also hosts several renowned institutions such as Notre-Dame or Saint-Joseph colleges, etc.
In general, Benin is a good place to work. Foreigners
wishing to work in Benin must obtain a work permit unless they have
citizenship, even if the general remark is that the state does not take
it too rigorously. Many foreigners live, work and are concentrated in
the suburbs of Cotonou, Port-Novo and its surroundings but also inside
the country.
In accordance with the decree of 2014 in application
to Article 210 of the Labor Code, the guaranteed interprofessional
minimum wage (SMIG) in Benin is 40,000 XOF and can be revised every 3
years or if necessary. No worker can be paid less than the SMIG at the
risk of being the subject of legal proceedings.
Pay close
attention to the Beninese taxation which favors rentiers over workers.
The advantage of working in Benin is to understand the French
language.
According to a study by the Economic Commission for
Africa (ECA) entitled “country profile 2018”, 72% of the working
population is underemployed. The unemployment rate is 2.4%.
In the Beninese public administration, working hours are from Monday to
Friday from 8 am to 12:30 pm for a pose and from 15 pm to 18:30 pm.
Shops and some private companies remain open beyond 20 a.m., but
usually close earlier on Saturdays.
Informal private sector
companies contribute strongly to economic activity in Benin with 89.0%
of the employed
Enterprises in the formal private sector sector
(5.5%)
Public sector companies (public administration and public
and para-public companies) with 4.0% of the assets occupied.
Whether you are looking for a job or want to create one, apart from the
fact that the National Social Security Fund of Benin (CNSS) which is the
organization to which the Government of Benin has entrusted the
administration of the occupational health and safety regime, it is
recommended to find out about the current measures for the promotion of
employment in Benin, of which we can find a non-exhaustive list here. it
is about:
National Employment Agency (ANPE)
National Fund for
the Promotion of Entrepreneurship and Youth Employment (FNPEEJ)
National Microfinance Fund (FNM)
Employment and Training Observatory
(OEF)
National Agency for SMEs (ANPME)
Benin Office for Youth
Volunteering Services (OBSVJ)
Continuing Vocational Training and
Apprenticeship Development Fund (FODEFCA
Center for the Promotion and
Supervision of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (CePEPE)
Business
Promotion Center (BPC)
Youth Employment Project (YEP)
Agricultural
Diversification Program through the Valorization of the Valleys (PDAVV)
Targets
Competitiveness and Integrated Growth Project (PCCI)
SONGHAI Project
GUFE/APIEX
The Beninese do not like thieves and will gladly help you if you scream. However, it can be dangerous for the wrongdoer, because of "the justice of the people". During the day, there is little risk regarding safety, apart from the road cutters. Nevertheless, on certain tourist sites, some neighborhood gangs are threatening to try to charge travelers a right of way. The tone can then easily rise.
The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory. The vaccination
record is requested at customs at the entrance to the country.
Malaria is very present in Benin especially during the rainy season. It
is necessary to protect yourself (mosquito net, repellents) as soon as
day falls and at night, and to take a preventive anti-malarial treatment
to be prescribed by a doctor. On the coast, however (Grand-Popo), an
almost permanent breeze scares away mosquitoes.
Benin is the birthplace of Voodoo. The sacred
"objects" are varied according to the places (trees, fish, forest, ...).
It is important to ask for permission before entering a place of
worship.
In Benin, looking someone older or more respectable in
the eye is a sign of affront. So you will often see the children talking
to you with their eyes lowered to the ground. Visiting your parents,
your elders is also de rigueur.
If you are invited to have a
drink, do not forget to pour a little of its contents on the floor, to
honor the ancestors (who are often buried under the house.)
In
the habits of the country, the right hand is the hand used to eat,
drink, greet, etc. the use of the left hand to give or receive goods is
perceived as a lack of respect, consideration
But the Beninese
are very welcoming and will rarely take offense at the clumsiness of
tourists. However, taking people's photos is not accepted everywhere.
Moreover, there are superstitions or certain stories that we must
get to know and respect in Benin: The Beninese culture prohibits doing
certain things at night: in particular showering, doing laundry,
sweeping, whistling, tracing on the floor, pronouncing the word "snake",
passing near a cemetery, to the pregnant woman not going out at night.
Likewise, the praying mantis does not land on the belly of a pregnant
woman or swallow orange seeds or other fruits, kill the toad, tell lies
or fly in the middle of the rain are among other some exhaustive
prohibitions.
The national code of Benin is 229. The numbers have
been changed from 6 to 8 digits since 2005. Telephone booths are almost
non-existent.
How to use the phone code to call Benin?
Dial 00 229 ... followed by your correspondent's number (between 8 and 0
digits). The telephone prefix that corresponds to the Benin country is:
<<<< 229 or 00229 or +229 >>>>
Example1:: To place the prefix 229
in a number of the Benin mobile phone, for example the number 0628719XX,
at the beginning it is necessary to delete the first "0" from the
recipient's number, and in its place put "00" or also "+", followed by
the code of Benin 229. The final result to call this recipient who
resides in Benin will be: 00229628719XX or + 229628719XX.
Example2: to call the French Embassy in Benin, dial 00 229 21 300 225
Most of the cities are covered by two operators, MTN Benin and Moov Benin. The other three (Globacom, BBCom and Libercom) had to leave the Beninese mobile phone market.
Benin shares 2,123 km of land borders with four
countries: Burkina Faso (386 km) and Niger (277 km) to the north,
Nigeria (809 km) to the east and Togo (651 km) to the west. The
International Court of Justice of the United Nations defined on July 12,
2005 the current border between Benin and Niger, after a dispute about
the islands in the bed of the Niger and Mekrou rivers: nine islands have
been assigned to Benin and sixteen, including that of Summer, to Niger.
The coastal line, on the Gulf (or bay) of Benin — in the great Gulf
of Guinea — extends for 121 km.
The territory, formed by a narrow
strip of land oriented perpendicular to the coast, extends from north to
south over a length of about 672 km. It reaches a width of 324 km at its
widest point in its northern part.
Stretched between the Niger River in the north and the
coastal plain in the south, the relief of the whole country is not very
rugged.
The north of the country is mainly made up of savannas
and semi-arid mountains, such as the Atacora chain, which extends to
Togo and Ghana on the one hand and Niger on the other hand. The highest
point of the country is Mount Sokbaro (or Sagbarao) (800 meters).
The south of the country consists of a low coastal plain dotted with
swamps, lakes and lagoons, in particular the lower Ouémé valley, the
Porto-Novo lagoon and Lake Nokoué, a vast wetland of 91,600 ha
recognized of international importance by the Ramsar Convention.
Most of the population lives in the southern coastal plains, whose
altitude nowhere exceeds 10 m. It is there that the largest cities of
Benin are concentrated, in particular Porto-Novo, the official capital,
and Cotonou, the economic and political capital.
The climate of the country, located in an
intertropical zone, is generally warm and humid, with seasonal and
geographical nuances related to latitude, relief and the alternation of
the seasons. It opposes two zones separated by the 10th parallel: to the
south, a temperate subequatorial regime; to the north, a warmer and
drier climate.
It falls between 900 and 1,400 millimeters of
water per year, the most watered regions are located in the southeast,
from Cotonou to Porto-Novo, the Atacora between Natitingou and Djougou,
the regions of Dassa-Zoumè and N'DALI north of Parakou. The maximum
rainfall is in the south (equatorial climate), from mid-March to
mid-July, and weaker in November and December.
The monsoon,
oceanic and loaded with humidity, blows from April to November, from the
southwest. The continental and dry harmattan blows in the opposite
direction to the monsoon (it comes from the north, from the Sahel), from
November to May, bringing an ocher-orange dust.
The humidity
level, always important, is between 65 and 95%. The average temperatures
are between 22 ° and 34 ° C, April and May being the hottest months,
just after the harmattan has blown for six months, before the monsoon
brings its rains.
In Benin, the environment is a constitutional right
according to Article 27 of the constitution of December 11, 1990 :
"Everyone has the right to a healthy, satisfactory and sustainable
environment and has the duty to defend it. The state takes care of the
protection of the environment. »
The framework law of February
12, 1999 resulting from this constitution specifies the rules and
objectives of the government.
But for the past few years, Benin
has been facing environmental challenges. The north of the country with
its savannah landscapes is affected by desertification and the south, by
deforestation. In 2014, 44% of the population lived in cities, while the
urban environment is vulnerable, polluted and degraded. Nevertheless,
the country's politics seem to be increasingly concerned about
environmental problems. On the government's website, the section
dedicated to the environment is regularly updated. In 2015, President
Thomas Boni Yayi had invested a lot in the preparation of Cop21. In view
of the preparations, the French Embassy in Benin had brought together
members of the Beninese government and the scientific community for an
exhibition on the theme "Ocean and climate". Despite the attacks of
November 13, the president positioned himself in favor of maintaining
the conference. The Beninese delegation counted more than a hundred
people there.
The country consists of two geographical areas :
the north (today bordering Niger and Burkina Faso), which knew the fate
of the peoples of the savannah ;
the south and the center of the
country which are marked by the history of the peoples of the Gulf of
Guinea.
We find this difference in the qualifications of "Africa
of granaries" and "Africa of baskets". The first refers to the granaries
of corn or millet that can be found in the field of African savannahs,
such as in Mali, Niger or Burkina Faso. The second is located around the
equator and corresponds, in West Africa, to the south of all the coastal
countries of the Gulf of Guinea. In the latter, due to the equatorial
climate favorable to agriculture, there is no point in storing, it is
enough just to "carry".
Until the fifteenth century, many peoples
of the savannah settled in the north :
Bariba or Baatombu
Dendi
Zarmas
Groussi
Hausa
Mossi
Paragourma
Fulani or Fulbe
Somba
While coastal populations are settling in the south and in
the center :
Goun
Mahi
Fon and Aja or Adja
Ewe
Gen
Ayizo-gbe
Mina
Yoruba
Missinhoun
Ancient communities are structured on the basis of
lineages. Living in restricted territories, these populations do not
need political organization. Their social organization is based on
respect for customs and dead ancestors. Authority is exercised orally
through the sharing of these traditions. Such populations are still
found in the north-west of the country: Berbas, Kabyés or Tanéka.
When several lineages come together, they are structured into
chiefdoms. The head may be a representative of an ancient family or a
priest. He surrounds himself with dignitaries, each responsible for a
collective activity and forming a council.
From the fifteenth
century, the social structure becomes more complex and kingdoms appear.
Three major cultural areas emerged: Bariba in the north, Yoruba and
Aja-Ewe in the south.
The north of the country has known several bariba
kingdoms (or baatombu) and in particular the kingdom of Nikki. It is
from this north-eastern village that a dynasty, created in the sixteenth
century by Sunon Séro, extended its domination over the region. Its
emperor, Sero Kpera, died in 1831 while fighting alongside the Yoruba of
Oyo (Nigeria) the attacks of the Fulani. The kingdom is disorganized
when the colonial armies invade it at the end of the nineteenth century.
Other Bariba kingdoms such as that of Bouê (Gamia), Kika, Kouandé with
the Bagana, Kandi with the Saka, and Parakou with the Kobourou, were
also quite famous.
Their societies are structured into strict
social classes: noble warriors (such as Guéra), griots, commoner
farmers, artisans and slaves. The Bariba meet around the Gaani festival.
It is a cultural and identity festival celebrated every year throughout
the Bariba kingdom around Nikki's Sina Boko.
The Yoruba area of influence covers the east of the country and is divided into two kingdoms: the kingdom of Shabê-Okpa and the kingdom of Ketou. These two kingdoms were created by two brothers descended from the king of Ife Okandi (at the same time as the kingdoms of Owu, Popo, Benin, Ila Orangun and Oyo). Next to these two kingdoms, we find an older Yoruba emigration population: the Idaatsha and the Ifè and the Isha. We must add to this ancient group the Manigri and the Mokole further north in the municipality of Kandi.
According to ancient oral and written traditions, the
Aja-Ewe emigrated from the fourteenth century from the city of Tado,
located on the banks of the Mono River in Togo. They established two
kingdoms in the south: in Sahè or Savi, and in Davié corresponding to
the current city of Allada.
Around 1620, the heirs of the kingdom
of Allada compete for the throne. From their split follows the formation
of two additional kingdoms. To the southeast, Zozérigbé creates the
kingdom of Hoogbonu in the locality of Ajashe, future Porto-Novo. And to
the north, Hwegbaja (1645-1689) establishes the kingdom of Dahomey (or
Danhomè), from its capital Abomey.
In the eighteenth century, a
series of conquests is made under the authority of twelve traditional
kings, starting with Gangnihessou. In 1724, Agadja (1708-1732), King of
Dahomey, seized the kingdom of Allada. Then, in 1727, he submitted that
of Savi. In 1741, it was Ouidah's turn to fall under the yoke of his
successor Tegbessou.
The country now has a wide window on the
sea. The kingdom has taken the habit of exchanging, commercially and
politically, with the Portuguese and the Dutch, who arrived at the end
of the fifteenth century. Dahomey becomes an organized political entity,
very original in the region. The kingdom is a dominant power. King
Hwegbaja even has at his disposal a contingent of Amazon women, former
elephant hunters. It is a complex, refined, efficient society but also
violent and bloody, especially during the royal funerals which were
accompanied by human sacrifices.
From the seventeenth century,
these kingdoms, which are structured around the cities of Allada,
Hoogbonu and Abomey, prosper with the development of local trade. Dutch,
Portuguese, Danish, English and French set up commercial counters along
the "Slave Coast", in particular those of slavery.
1650:
construction of an English fort in Ouidah
1664: installation of
Breton Capuchin missionaries in Ouidah
1704: construction of a French
fort in Ouidah
1752: installation of the Portuguese in Xogbonou which
they renamed Porto-Novo in 1782
In the first half of the
nineteenth century, King Ghézo of Dahomey developed the cultivation of
oil palm trees and introduced new crops (corn, tomato, peanut, tobacco).
Regular and clean villages, and well-ordered crops cover the country.
In 1851, France signed a commercial and friendship
treaty with the king of Xogbonou (Porto-Novo) King Toffa I, vassal of
King Glélé of Dahomey, who reigned from 1858 to 1889.
By the
treaties of 1868 and 1878, the Cotonou region, located between Ouidah, a
Portuguese trading post, and Porto-Novo, was ceded to France.
In
1883, the king of Xogbonou (Porto-Novo), wishing to protect himself from
the expansionist aims of Dahomey, signs a protectorate treaty with
France.
One of the most mythical kings of the kingdom of Dahomey,
the very noble King Béhanzin (having the shark as his emblem) attacks
the French in Cotonou in 1890, keeps French hostages for 73 days, then
besieges other Porto-Novien villages protected from the French. He even
declares to the French to leave him alone, proudly defying: "If you want
war, I am ready. »
Dethroned, on the run, Béhanzin surrenders of
his own accord telling his last faithful "to take advantage of the truly
amazing conduct of these white victors who did not kill anyone and did
not take prisoners to France. "He was taken captive in January 1894,
then deported to Martinique. The French establishments were then grouped
together within the colony of Dahomey. In the North, the Bariba kingdom
of Nikki, which had reached its apogee in the eighteenth century before
encountering the expansionism of the Nigerian kingdom of Ilorin, opposes
a strong resistance to French colonization.
In 1899, the colony
of Dahomey integrated French West Africa (AOF) into the French colonial
Empire. The borders were established by mutual agreement with the United
Kingdom (then fixed in Nigeria) and with Germany (then present in Togo).
After the First World War, schooling became very important,
especially thanks to religious missions, and developed especially in the
south, which became one of the main political and intellectual centers
of the AOF.
Many political parties were founded at that time, at
the same time as a press of opposition to the colonial system developed.
Rallied to Free France during the Second World War, Dahomey becomes in
1958 an autonomous state within the French Community. The country gained
independence on August 1, 1960 and entered, the following month, the
United Nations, under the name of the Republic of Dahomey.
Since independence, Benin has known an eventful
political history. The first twelve years are marked by chronic
instability, the former colonial elites, mostly from the South, compete
for power.
In 1963, the north of the country wants revenge, while
the elites and the new bourgeoisie seem unconcerned by the many
challenges of underdevelopment. It was during this period that a certain
Colonel Christophe Soglo (Nicéphore Soglo's uncle) arrived on the
political scene of the country, forcing Hubert Maga, the first president
of the republic of independent Dahomey, to resign.
In six years,
four coups and military regimes have been recorded, shortening ephemeral
civil periods which see Sourou Migan Apithy, Justin Ahomadegbé and Émile
Derlin Zinsou succeed each other in power.
In 1970, a
Presidential Council consisting of three members, Maga, Apithy and
Ahomadegbé (a rotating presidency of three) takes power and suspends the
constitution. The presidents' round could not be done. Indeed, only Maga
was able to spend the two years retained at the head of Dahomey. No
sooner had Ahomadegbé begun his turn of leadership in 1972 than the
army, under the leadership of Captain Mathieu Kérékou, decided to take
over the government, dismissed the Presidential Council, and Mathieu
Kérékou became the new head of the Dahomean state. He is quickly
appointed commander. But the military find themselves distraught,
without a program and without ideas. Their power is empty and it is in
this vacuum that the ideas of the young soldiers and students who lived
in France during the period of May 68 will rush in.
In November 1974, Mathieu Kérékou imposed
Marxism-Leninism as the official ideology of the state. In 1975, to
reduce the political weight of the South, the name of Dahomey was
symbolically abandoned for that of Benin, named after the kingdom that
had once flourished in neighboring Nigeria. The country takes the
official name of the People's Republic of Benin.
The regime of
the People's Republic of Benin underwent significant transformations
during its existence: a brief nationalist period (1972-1974); a
socialist phase (1974-1982); and a phase involving an opening to Western
countries and economic liberalism (1982-1990).
Extensive economic
and social development programs are being implemented, but the results
are mixed. In 1974, under the influence of young revolutionaries – the
"Leaguers" – the government embarked on a socialist program:
nationalization of strategic sectors of the economy, reform of the
education system, establishment of agricultural cooperatives and new
local administration structures, launch of a campaign to eradicate the
"feudal forces" including tribalism. The regime prohibits the activities
of the opposition. Elected president by the National Revolutionary
Assembly in 1980, re-elected in 1984, Mathieu Kérékou escaped three coup
attempts in 1988.
In the 1980s, the economic situation in Benin
is increasingly critical. The country is experiencing high economic
growth rates (15.6% in 1982, 4.6% in 1983 and 8.2% in 1984) but the
closure by Nigeria of its border with Benin leads to a sudden drop in
customs and tax revenues. The state is no longer able to pay the
salaries of civil servants. In 1987, the IMF's plans imposed draconian
economic measures: additional levies of 10% on wages, hiring freezes,
automatic retirements. In 1989, a new agreement with the IMF on a
program of adjustments to economic structures triggers a massive strike
by students and civil servants. Benin, with the decisive support of
France, which President Kérékou has decided to trust, is beginning a
perfectly successful democratic transition in conjunction with the
process of economic reforms.
After the conference of the living
forces of the nation led by the Catholic Prelate Isidore De Souza, a
transitional government, set up in 1990, paves the way for the return of
democracy and multiparty politics. The Prime Minister, Nicéphore Soglo,
defeats Mathieu Kérékou in the presidential election of March 24, 1991.
Nicéphore Soglo, the first elected president of the
era of democratic renewal, should put the country back on the tracks of
the market economy by creating favorable conditions for economic growth.
Thanks to the renewal of the system of government, President Soglo will
restore the coat of arms of endogenous religions by reconciling the
traditional powers and makes January 10th of each year the National Day
of Voodoo.
However, the weight of social constraints on economic
growth as well as the structural adjustments that aimed, among other
things, the reduction of public spending recommended by the IMF are
reviving the general discontent of the population. In addition,
traditional traffics are flourishing in the open (whiskey, gasoline,
cement, cars, etc.).
After losing his majority in the Legislative
Assembly, President Nicéphore Soglo, accused of nepotism by his
opponents, is defeated by Mathieu Kérékou in the presidential election
of March 17, 1996. It is a shock for Nicéphore Soglo who, after shouting
at the conspiracy, sends his congratulations to Mathieu Kérékou and goes
away to meditate for more than four months, outside Africa, the reasons
for his fatal mistakes.
Democratically, Mathieu Kérékou is back
on the Beninese political scene, after having led the country for
seventeen years (from 1972 to 1990) in the political and economic fiasco
of the now former people's Republic of Benin.
The legislative
elections of March 1999 narrowly gave victory to the Renaissance of
Benin (RB), the opposition movement led by Rosine Soglo, wife of former
president Nicéphore Soglo. These elections mark the failure of the
African Movement for Democracy and Progress (MADEP), the party of one of
President Kérékou's relatives, businessman Sefu Fagbohoun.
However, in March 2001, Mathieu Kérékou was re-elected President of the
Republic with 84.06% of the votes. Having come out on top in the first
round, against his predecessor Nicéphore Soglo, he will be confronted
with the withdrawal of the latter as well as that of Adrien Houngbédji
who arrived in third position. These two resigning candidates called the
election a "masquerade".
Tarnished by suspicions of electoral
fraud and sixty-seven years old, Mathieu Kérékou therefore begins a
second consecutive term in fragile economic conditions.
Since 2001, Benin has been plunged into serious
economic difficulties, due to the difficult situation of the autonomous
port of Cotonou, the oil shock, the crisis in the cotton sector,
widespread smuggling, the bloated staff of the administration or the
serious problems of electricity supply created by droughts. Benin is in
a difficult economic period that only agriculture, relatively
diversified, manages to keep competitive with its neighbors.
Thus, during the March 2006 elections, the Beninese decided to express
their "fed-up" and that the novice in politics, the former president of
the West African Development Bank (BOAD), Dr. Thomas Boni Yayi succeeds
to the surprise of Mathieu Kérékou. He was elected President of the
Republic at the end of the second round of voting on March 5, 2006,
gathering 74.51% of the votes, against 25.49% for Me Adrien Houngbédji,
who presented his congratulations to the newly elected. There is a high
participation rate of 76%.
Mathieu Kérékou, who had refused to
change the constitution, could not stand for re-election. He was
nevertheless opposed to Boni Yayi, too novice for his taste. Indeed, a
few days before the results, the former president, nicknamed "the
chameleon", plunged the country into doubt, by publicly stating that
during the conduct of the election there had been malfunctions in the
organization, with problems with electoral lists and voter cards.
Despite this, the coordination of independent international observers
welcomed during a press conference in Cotonou, the conduct of the second
round of the presidential election in Benin, judging that it had been
"very well held".
On April 6, 2006, Boni Yayi, 54 years old, is
officially installed in his villas in Cotonou, as the new president of
the Republic of Benin. The new president, who advocates a "cooperative
and solidarity republic", listed the four priorities of his mandate as
human resources, concerted governance, the development of
entrepreneurship, the construction of new infrastructure.
Independent candidate, Boni Yayi was able to rally the tenors of
Beninese politics that are Albert Tévoédjrè, Émile Derlin Zinsou and
about twenty deputies to the National Assembly, before benefiting from
the voting instructions of almost all his competitors in the first
round, at the end of which he totaled a little more than 35%, against
24% for his pursuer Me Adrien Houngbédji. Apparently, the voting
instructions were followed. However, some observers believe that with or
without instructions, the "candidate for change" would have passed. In
the eyes of voters and more particularly young people and business
circles, Boni Yayi (economist) embodies the hope of an economic
recovery, the reduction of unemployment, the fight against corruption,
good governance.
The successor of Mathieu Kérékou promised a
double-digit growth rate (currently about 5%) and the positioning of
Benin at the top of West African cotton producers from the 2006-2007
crop year. Although surrounded by the entire political class, Boni Yayi
refuses to play political politics. "We came to produce wealth," he
says, refusing to constitute a "government of thanks". However, informed
sources indicate that he has asked the political parties to offer him
frameworks for the formation of the government.
The legislative
elections of March 31, 2007 give the majority to the Cowry Force for an
Emerging Benin (FCBE).
President Boni Yayi was re-elected for a
second term in the March 2011 presidential elections. Obtaining more
than 55% of the votes, against 35% for his main competitor Adrien
Houngbédji, Boni Yayi was elected in the first round. He pledged, as
soon as he took office, not to amend the constitution in order to run
for a third term and therefore leaves office in March 2016, at the end
of the next presidential elections. He is succeeded by Patrice Talon,
independent candidate and former businessman.
Patrice Talon wins the election of March 20, 2016 with
65.39% of the votes against Lionel Zinsou (34.61%) of the votes.
In April 2017 and July 2018, the Beninese parliament rejected a
constitutional reform. The government then announced the holding of a
referendum on this reform before withdrawing in August of the same year.
The Minister of Defense, Candide Azannai, submitted his resignation in
March 2017 to mark his opposition to this reform project. Presented by
the press as one of his closest political supporters, this is a blow for
Patrice Talon.
In 2018, a new court of justice was created. The
Court of Repression of economic offenses and terrorism (CRIET) appears
for the political opposition to President Talon as an institution
subordinate to the power of the latter. According to the journalist
Ariel Gbaguidi, the CRIET is "erected as a superpowered justice ready to
neutralize any voice opposed to that of the head of state and to prevent
any political competition". Since the creation of CRIET, the West
African Network for the Edification of Peace (WANEP-Benin) affirms that
there are "risks of vassalization of the judiciary".
In February
2018, in the run-up to the April 2019 legislative elections, political
groups supporting Patrice Talon's action gathered within the Progressive
Union.
In March 2019, the National Autonomous Electoral
Commission validates only two lists out of 7 presented, both favorable
to President Patrice Talon, for the elections of April 28, 2019. The
opposition finds itself excluded de facto from the elections.
On
March 29, the African Court of Human Rights meeting in Arusha denounces
abuses that are moving the country away from the rule of law.
Jean-Baptiste Elias, leader of the Front of National Organizations
against Corruption, said in April 2019 that "democracy risks turning
into a dictatorship" in Benin. In the context of controversial and
unopposed legislative elections, the NGO Social Watch Benin decides not
to participate in the process contrary to the electoral sequence of
2015.
A few months after the elections, in May 2019, a jihadist
intrusion was noticed with the kidnapping of two Frenchmen in the
Pendjari national park. This event, even if the hostages are freed by an
intervention by French forces, confirms the possibility of jihadist
groups descending towards the Gulf of Guinea as the destabilization of
Burkina Faso and central Mali progresses. This also thwarts one of the
economic objectives of the Beninese president, Patrice Talon, to develop
tourism in his country.
Patrice Talon was then re-elected in the
April 2021 presidential election, accompanied by his running mate Mariam
Chabi Talata, in the first round with more than 85% of the votes.
The legislative elections of 2023 are the first elections of the
Talon era in which the opposition and the presidential movement face
each other. The Democrats Party of former President Boni Yayi wins 28
seats out of 109, which is insufficient to oppose the presidential
movement of the Progressive Union and the Republican Bloc.
Benin is a multiparty republic with a presidential regime, where the
president is both head of state and head of government. The executive
power is in the hands of the government while the legislative power is
shared between the government and the parliament. The judiciary is
independent of the first two. It is exercised by the Supreme Court, as
well as the courts and tribunals created by the constitution.
The
current constitution was promulgated in 1990 and amended by Law No.
2019-40 of November 07, 2019.
Benin is a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union
(WAEMU). Its currency is the CFA franc.
It belongs to the group
of least developed countries. In terms of the human development index
(HDI), it ranks 166th out of 191 in the UNDP 2021 report, falling by 8
places compared to 2019. For 2020, it is ranked 149th out of 190 in the
Doing business report, which calculates the ease of doing business
index, compared to 153rd the previous year.
However, the growth
rate, which fell to 2.5% in 2010 (the lowest in West Africa), has been
slightly higher than 5% since 2011. But growth, lower inflation and
infrastructure development are not enough to reduce overall poverty, due
to the absence of redistribution, demographic pressure and the presence
of a very important informal sector, which has been growing rapidly
since the 1980s.
The autonomous port of Cotonou (PAC) constitutes
one of the pivots of the Beninese economy. However, 80% of imported
goods are re-exported to Nigeria, which makes the country very dependent
on its powerful neighbor.
The other source of wealth is cotton48,
a crop that has managed excellent harvests49, even if on the world
market, the price of the pound of fiber in 2015 was around $ 0.70,
relatively low compared to the peak of $ 2 per pound that it reached in
2011. Benin was in fourth place among the top seven African cotton
producers in the mid-2010s.
The main crops are mainly food crops:
yam, cassava, corn, sorghum, paddy rice, fruits and vegetables.
The breeding mainly concerns the cattle herd which numbered 2,111,000
heads, sheep (842,000), goats (1,674,000), pigs (398,000) and poultry
(17,683,000) according to data from the Livestock Directorate (2012).
The national herd of pigs is constantly under the threat of African
swine fever (ASF) which is rampant in an enzootic form.
Unconventional breeding is gaining momentum with an increasing number of
breeders of laying hens, rabbits, snails, broilers and bees.
Agribusiness is developing with the enthusiasm of young agripreneurs who
are developing several initiatives based on information and
communication technologies. Websites (Louis Agbokou's blog for example),
online sales platforms for agricultural products (the BenAgri platform
for example), specialized magazines (La Voix Rurale for example),
WhatsApp and Facebook groups are created between actors in the
agricultural sector. These types of actors, mainly young people, discuss
among themselves the concerns related to their activities and contribute
to the development of the agricultural sector.
Fishing often
remains artisanal, it is competed by foreign boats. We also note the
development of fish farming with Clarias and Tilapia as raised species.
Tourism represents 2.5% of the country's GDP, which occupies the
fifth place among destinations in West Africa. In 2013 it welcomed
230,946 foreign visitors against 219,949 in 2012. Its main assets are
the beaches and lake towns in the south (Ganvié), the animal parks in
the north (Pendjari and W), Abomey and its royal palaces, Ouidah, place
of memory of slavery and cradle of the Voodoo cult.
In 2023,
Benin is ranked in the 120th position for the global innovation index.
The country is still far behind in terms of spatial planning. In
particular, there is a lack of a real transport infrastructure, which
greatly prevents or slows down the development of the country.
Urban planning policy is also in its infancy. In Cotonou and in other
major cities, road services have only allowed a small part of the
streets to be paved, but the majority of traffic lanes remain made of
earth, which is often bumpy and fills with water at the slightest rain.
The still insufficient electrification in the country puts a brake
on economic development and knows regular interruptions when it is
present. About 70% of the Beninese population has access to safe
drinking water, and only 46% to sanitation services.
To help its
development, Benin has benefited since 2010 from an important grant made
available to Benin by the people of the United States through the
Millennium Challenge Account as part of a donation agreement signed
between the two countries.
The second grant agreement, amounting
to $411 million, was signed in July 2015 for the implementation of its
next program (2016-2021) focused mainly on the reconstruction of the
electric energy subsector. This program covers four areas: production,
distribution, institutional reforms and decentralized energy.
The
first agreement (2006-2011), amounting to $ 300 million, focused on four
projects: land, justice, financial services and the port of Cotonou.
Other countries also have development assistance programs for Benin,
such as France through the French development agency.
Immediately
after coming to power in 2016, President Talon began renovating the
streets of major cities and managing garbage disposal. The Fishing
Route, for example, which leaves Cotonou in the direction of Ouidah, has
become a six-lane artery illuminated by solar energy.
After the closure of several railway lines, the 438 km line between Cotonou and Parakou is still in operation. However, it seems that she is no longer transporting people, but only cargo.
Following the General Population and Housing Census of 2002 (RGPH3),
a fourth census (RGPH4) took place in 2013. Its final results were
published in June 2015, but estimates are calculated more frequently.
The population size has evolved at a steady pace. The country had
878,000 inhabitants in 1910 and 1,528,000 in 1950. After independence,
there were 2,106,000 in 1961, then 3,331,210 in 1979 and 4,915,555 in
1992. The 2002 census counts 6,769,914 people. According to an estimate
from July 2020, Benin has 12,864,634 inhabitants on this date and ranks
74th in the world.
Benin's population is young and
female-dominated, mostly rural, but urban dwellers represent 49% in 2020
and the annual rate of urbanization was 3.89% between 2015 and 2020.
Benin is made up of a large number of ethnic groups, of variable
numerical importance and unequal geographical distribution. According to
the 2002 census (which includes related populations), the Fon are the
most numerous (39.2%), strongly located in the southern departments.
Adjas (15.2%) are concentrated in Mono and Couffo. The Yoruba (12.3%)
are very present in the departments of Hills and Plateau. The Bariba
(9.2%), the Batammariba (6.1%), the Yoms (5.5%) and the Fulani (4%) live
rather in the north.
Benin was home to several thousand refugees,
especially from Togo, but this number has decreased considerably since
the implementation, with the support of UNHCR, of a new integration
strategy in 2013.
The official language of Benin is French. The prestige of this
language, as the language of the media, administration and interethnic
communications, pushes to its learning, especially in urban areas. A
variety of French called "African French" has developed in the streets
and markets of Cotonou. This is an almost slang speech. According to the
OLF's 2014 report, Benin has 35% of francophones in its population.
Benin is a member of the International Organization of La
francophonie (OIF) and the Parliamentary Assembly of La francophonie
(APF).
About fifty African languages are spoken on the territory
of Benin. Of these, only about twenty exceed a narrow circle. The most
widespread is the fon, followed by Yoruba, gun-gbe, mina, adja and
bariba.
English is used in the business world, especially for
exchanges with neighboring Nigeria.
The 1990 Constitution proclaims the secularism of the state and
freedom of thought, expression and religious practices. Benin is a
member country of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
According to the 2013 census (RGPH4), 27.7% of the inhabitants are
Muslims, 25.5% Catholics, 11.6% are practitioners of voodoo, 6.7% belong
to the Church of Heavenly Christianity. There are other communities with
less than 5% of the population, such as Methodists, followers of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Jehovah's
Witnesses, Baha'is, Baptists, Pentecostals, members of the Unification
Church (Moon) and eckankars. 5.8% of the population declare themselves
without religious affiliation.
The statistics do not reflect the
real place of voodoo in Benin, its historical cradle in the seventeenth
century. Indeed, many Beninese associate its practice with those of
other religions. First demonized by travelers, fought by missionaries,
banned in the 1970s under the Marxist regime of Kérékou, the cult of
voodoo has been the object, since 1993, of a national holiday,
celebrated on January 10 and increasingly popular.
In Benin, the education system must face sustained demographic
pressure, with a likely increase of 25% of the school-going population
between 2010 and 2020, therefore education spending. Despite an
unfavourable macroeconomic environment in recent years, the education
sector retains a higher budgetary priority than in other sub-Saharan
African countries. The public and private sectors have developed
jointly, school coverage has increased at all levels of education, but,
as far as primary education is concerned, it remains to improve access
and reduce dropouts during the cycle. Indeed, child labor remains a
problem in Benin because the country happens to be the one with the most
children aged 7 to 14 working, among the countries for which data are
available (2008). The percentage is 76% for girls and 72.8% for boys.
The country has two public universities, the University of
Abomey-Calavi (UAC) and the University of Parakou (UP), created in
September 2001 to replace the University of Dahomey, founded in 1970 and
became the national University of Benin in 1975. There are other public
institutions, such as the School of African Heritage (EPA), the National
School of Administration and magistracy (ENAM), the National Youth
Institute of physical education and sport (INJEPS) or the Benin Center
for Scientific and technical research (CBRST) and many private
institutions, such as the University of Sciences and Technologies of
Benin (USTB), or, at secondary and higher level, the Graduate School of
Civil Engineering Véréchaguine AK.
Benin has four universities :
the University of Abomey-Calavi, formerly the National University of
Benin,
the University of Parakou,
the National University of
science, technology, engineering and Mathematics (UNSTIM),
the
National University of Agriculture (UNA).
The Constitution of Benin, adopted in 1990, guarantees and protects
freedom of expression, including freedom of the press, in its articles
23 and 24. Article 23 states that "Everyone has the right to freedom of
thought, conscience, religion, worship, opinion and expression in
accordance with public order established by law and regulations".
Article 24 states that "the freedom of the press is recognized and
guaranteed by the State. It is protected by the High Authority for
Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC) under the conditions set by an
organic law".
Benin has long been considered one of the examples
of modern democracy in West Africa, benefiting from satisfactory press
freedom, despite poverty. However, the situation is gradually
deteriorating, especially after the presidential election of 2006:
difficulties in accessing information sources, difficult living and
working conditions for journalists, hidden funding, lack of
professionalism. In 2013, Benin ranked 79th in the world press freedom
index compiled annually by Reporters Without Borders. In 2015, it was
demoted to 84th place, out of 180 countries. Since 2016 and the access
to the presidency of Patrice Talon, the media have been under state
surveillance, and several journalists and newspapers have been
prosecuted after the adoption in 2018 of the law on the Digital Code.
The HAAC published on July 7, 2020 a press release asking the "online
media to put an end to all publications under penalty of being applied
the rigor of the law”. In 2021, Benin loses one more place in RSF's
world press freedom index.
The Office of Broadcasting and
Television of Benin (ORTB) is the national public radio-television
company of Benin.
Football is the most popular sport in Benin. Created in 1962, the
Benin Football Federation is a member of FIFA and CAF. The Benin
football team is nicknamed "the Cheetahs". Many Beninese players are
recruited at the international level.
Handball and athletics are
also very popular, girls and boys alike.
Petanque and roller
sports are two sports disciplines that record Benin's regular
participation in international competitions.
In addition to these
sports originally imported by colonization, more traditional activities
are also practiced, such as wrestling or sharro, a kind of manly
confrontation with the help of long sticks, in which the young Fulani
nomads engage.
The royal palaces of Abomey have been inscribed on the World Heritage list since 1985. Other cultural sites are on the indicative list: the vernacular habitat of northern Benin, the old neighborhoods and the royal palace of Porto-Novo, the old neighborhoods and the Slave route of Ouidah, the lake site of Ganvié, the underground village of Agongointo-Zoungoudo.
Abomey, the former capital of the pre-colonial kingdom of Dahomey (or
Danhomè), produced a flourishing court art, which is evidenced by
bas-reliefs, doors, seats, carved thrones and poles, wooden or metal
statues, chiseled facades, hangings with applied motifs.
South of
Abomey-Calavi, the Small Recade Museum, located in the center, presents
a collection of forty-one traditional recades.
Founded in Cotonou in 2005, the Zinsou Foundation is the first
Beninese structure dedicated to contemporary art. In 2013, she opened a
museum in Ouidah, which presents part of her collection.
The
visual artists Cyprien Tokoudagba, Romuald Hazoumè, Emo de Medeiros,
Charly d'Almeida, Dominique Zinkpè, Ishola Akpo, Remi Samuz or Cyr-Raoul
X, are some of the great names in contemporary art.
Inaugurated
on February 6, 2015, The Center is a multidisciplinary artistic space
located in the Lobozounkpa district, in Abomey-Calavi, a few kilometers
from Cotonou. Devoted to contemporary artistic creation, it is placed
under the direction of the visual artist Dominique Zinkpè. Equipped with
the Small Museum of the Récade, exhibition rooms, the Sculpture Garden,
residences, creative workshops, a stage space and a café, this place is
a space for creation and exchanges whose objective is to contribute to
the influence of the contemporary Beninese artistic scene.
After
the passage of the French law on the restitution of 26 works of art in
Benin, the Presidency of the Republic is developing a space in the
Marina Palace as part of the exhibition "Art of Benin yesterday and
today" from February 22 to May 20, 2022. Given the success of the event,
the exhibition will return on July 15, 2022.
One of the pioneers of photography in Benin is Joseph Moïse Agbojelou
(1912-2000), president of the Association of Professional Photographers
of Dahomey, which had only a dozen members in 1950.
Mayeul Akpovi
first films the big French cities before returning to Cotonou where he
takes some 20,000 photos to create a video, Cotonou in Motion.
Several Beninese filmmakers have lived in France for a long time,
such as Sylvestre Amoussou or Jean Odoutan, founder of the Ouidah
International Film Festival (Quintessence) in 2003 and the Ouidah Film
Institute (ICO) in 2006.
The actor Djimon Hounsou also tries his
luck in France, but makes a career in the United States, through action
films such as Gladiator, Blood Diamond, Amistad, Never Back Down,
Special Forces and The Guardians of the Galaxy.
Mobile digital
cinema is present in Benin.
Since 1991, the International Theater Festival of Benin (FITHEB) brings together for a week a hundred troupes in the major cities of the country: Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Ouidah, Abomey and Parakou.
It is a literature essentially in the French language100, born in the
interwar period, in the former colony of Dahomey. The different literary
genres appear in the following order: the novel, with The Slave (1929)
by Félix Couchoro, the theater (1933-1937), the tale and the legend
(1941-1946) and finally poetry (1954).
Paul Hazoumé is the author
of the first African historical novel (Doguicimi, 1938), but, like
Couchoro, he does not denounce the colonial influence. The first
critical views on society appear in the 1960s, with Olympe Bhêly-Quenum
or Jean Pliya at the theater.
The 1980s saw the development of
Beninese comics. Recent years have seen the emergence of brilliant young
authors revealed by writing competitions or individual publications.
Like Habib Dakpogan, Fabroni Bill Yoclounon, Giovanni Houansou, Destin
Akpo and many others, the young Beninese feathers manage to export and
even compete internationally at grand prix.
Women's literature is
emerging. The publication in 2018, under the direction of Gisèle Ayaba
Totin, of Ten women writers from Benin attests to this. Sophie Adonon,
Harmonie Byll Catarya, Eliane Chegnimonhan, Lhys Degla, Adelaide
Fassinou, Myrtille Akofa Haho, Elena Miro K, Carmen Fifame Toudonou,
Sister Henriette Goussikinde and Anaïs Aho participate in this
collection.
Beninese music is less known abroad than other African music, however
some of its artists are big international stars such as Angélique Kidjo,
the late G. G. Vikey or the late Gnonnas Pedro
Some Beninese
artists are also very recognized abroad such as Sagbohan Danialou, Stan
Tohon, the Poly-Rythmo Orchestra or Ricos Campos, for the new generation
we can mention Trio Teriba or Dibi Dobo…
Even if there are
rhythms and musical currents specific to the country (Tchinck, Soyoyo,
Zekede, Noudjiou ...), it is true that internationally they are not very
popular. Let's not forget, however, that major musical currents such as
different types of salsa, for example, have their roots in the animist
rhythms and vodoun and orisha ceremonies of Benin. These rhythms are
therefore still very present in the Antilles (Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico,
Jamaica) and in South America.
It should also be noted that the
hip-hop movement has been quite present in Benin for some years among
young people: the mixture of French, English and traditional also gives
quite remarkable styles.
The timeless ones: Angélique Kidjo,
Laurent Hounsavi, Gnonnas Pedro, the "All Powerful" Poly-Rythmo
Orchestra, Stan Tohon, Sagbohan Danialou, Gbessi, Janvier Dénagan, G. G.
Vikey, Sophie Edia, El Rego, José Elmah (who, beyond being a singer,
writes hit songs for many Beninese artists of the new generation).
The generation of the Dance Funk Decade: Jesse Franklin (William Gomez),
with a fully recognized experience on all European, American, Australian
and Japanese radio waves (on major labels such as Carrère, DiscAZ,
Ricordi, arista, Geffen, BMG, A&M records).
The popular, traditional
and modern: Vivi the International, Isbath Madou, Jean Adagbenon, Gangbé
Brass Band, The Guedehoungue Brothers, Robinson Sipa, Fannick Marie
Verge, Nel Oliver, Bless Antonio, Zeynab, Affo Love, Richard Flash,
Ricos Campos, Ras Bawa, Alévi, Alèkpéhanhou, Gbèzé, Jospinto, Belmonde
Z, Pelagie the vibrator, Wily Mignon, Franco Mama, Kèmi, Nydal Khelly,
Kiinzah, Don Métok, GG Lapino, Little Miguelito, Rabby Slo, Afafa,
Laurent Hounsavi, Fafa Ruffino, Kona, Fanny, Nelly, Anna Tèko, Sèssimè,
Norberka, Zomadokokpon, Trio Teriba, Zouley Sangaré, Pépé Oléka, Nila,
Kuamy Mensah, Isdeen, Prince K-Sim, Giovanni, Wilf Enighma, Oluwa Kêmy,
Pépit'arts, etc.
The eclectic: John Arcadius, Lionel Loueke, Wally
Badarou, Mina Agossi…
The hip-hop / rap movement (and its history):
The artists express themselves mainly in French but also in local
languages such as fon, Yoruba, bariba, mina, etc. The precursors of the
movement at the end of the 1990s are Ishack, Sakpata Boys, H2O Assouka,
Radama Z, Jonquet Zoo, Tatu Clan, Gerard Ayi, Eric Harlem, Polo Orisha
and of course the legendary Kaysee Montejàno and Ardiess Posse who
really open the doors of rap in the country. Ardiess Posse will organize
for many years the famous "Hip Hop Kankpe" festival where international
artists come to mingle with the locals. The 2000s, which can be called
the "golden age of Beninese rap", saw the emergence of emblematic groups
or artists such as Diamant Noir and Blaazfem, but also Dhalai-K, Esprit
Neg, Apouké, Private Club, Taka Crew, Duce, BMG Yari, Tréma Sector, 3e
Monarchy, X Kalibur, Darkness, Fool Faya ... Then came the time of
labels and collectives that were formed to have a better chance of being
active and publicized ( Ardiess Prod, Reflex 12ments, Cotonou City Crew,
Afropop, Self Made Men, We Magic, Witch, Meko Prod, CKS, Carpe Diem, 4
Season, Afrika Media Group, etc.). Rap has also combined with women in
Benin, but too timidly, some names have had their little glory hours:
Moona, MC MCA, Kouadja, Kissmath, Beezy Baby. Many radio shows have
contributed over the years to develop the movement and to publicize it
with passion, we can remember Freddy Shark's Ghetto Blaster on Golf FM,
Sergeant Markus's Big Tempo on Radio Tokpa, Gérardo's Rap Altitude on
Ocean FM or Nick's 360° Hip Hop on Atlantic FM. Subsequently, important
artists such as Dibi Dobo or Mister Blaaz try to make Benin known with
more or less success outside its borders. We can also mention several
names that have marked their time such as Nasty Nesta, Jay Killah, Sam,
Mutant, Adinon, Nicoteen, Sewedo (DNA), Kemtaan, Demos, Sam Seed,
Cyanogen, WP, Black Mamba, D-Flex, K-Libr Volcanik, DRBX, Roccah, DJ
Highfa, the late Rim'K ... An urban conscious Slam scene has also been
very active for years with artists like K-Mal Radji, Sergeant Markus,
Rodoutan the Silent, The Yov, Sêminvo ... The advent of the Internet has
also allowed Beninese rap to be more publicized, open to the world and
accessible to the scattered diaspora, from 2005 to the present day,
forums and sites such as Zangbeto, Béninzik, Rapdubled, Voluncorp,
UrbenHits, etc. have relayed hits and clips through the web. For a few
years now, Beninese rap has been looking for its identity torn between
American, Nigerian, French and more traditional influences. The lack of
structures, professional management, cultural investments by the state
and media cronyism hinders the development of this music. Since 2014,
the most popular new urban talents have been Fanicko, Tyaf, Hypnoz, Zef,
Vano Baby, Nikanor, Sam-T…
The hip-hop / rap movement
(franco/Beninese): Ol Kainry, Kohndo, Zoxea and his brother Melopheelo,
Vicelow, Thahomey…
The zouk: Richard Flash, Martin Hod, Miss Hope.
Religious and gospel music: Several Catholic choirs (Saint Monica Choir,
The Masters of the cathedrals of the country ...) and evangelicals of
the country. Several confessional and synodal choirs. We can count on
the brilliant Anna Téko International, Émile Zola... In this line, for
several decades, several Catholic priests have been using gospel music
as a real weapon of the new evangelization (Abbots Frédéric Viadénou,
Damien Bokossa, Honoré Koudohin, Bienvenu Koukpo...).
The Beninese people's eating habits vary according to the
geographical area, the climate, the vegetation and the sole106. The
cuisine is rich and willingly mixes the local ancestral traditions,
those of Brazil, Arab countries, other African countries and Europe.
The basic products are corn, millet, sorghum, rice, gari (or cassava
flour) and yam. The majority of preparations use chili pepper, salt,
onion, tomato, okra, palm or peanut oil.
Many local dishes are
sold on the street, by street vendors, in the maquis, or on the markets.
If, in the south, the traditional Beninese drink is sodabi, a
liqueur obtained after distillation of palm wine, in the North, we find
Tchoukoutou which is a craft beer made from cereals.
In Benin, according to a 2020 estimate, the birth rate is 42.1 ‰ and the mortality rate is 8.4‰7. Neonatal, infant and child mortality remain high. The level of life expectancy at birth is low, but it has increased to reach 61.4 years in 2020. The fertility rate remains high, with 5.53 live births per woman. There are 397 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
Communicable diseases are still the main causes of morbidity and
mortality. Malaria and acute respiratory infections are the two leading
causes of consultation, respectively 39.6% and 14.9% of cases in 2008.
This is followed by other gastrointestinal disorders (6.8%), trauma
(5.8%) and diarrheal diseases (3.5%). The incidence of the three
priority diseases of malaria, STIs/HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis remains
worrying. For tourists, a vaccination against yellow fever is mandatory.
There is also the emergence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs),
such as high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity. These pathologies are
linked mainly to an unbalanced diet, physical inactivity, smoking and
harmful alcohol consumption.
According to UNICEF, "Benin is among the least developed countries in achieving progress in nutrition. Malnutrition, still present in particular in the north of the country, maintains the cycle of poverty, keeps whole sections of the population in a situation of vulnerability and threatens prosperity". At the national level, one in three Beninese children still suffers from malnutrition. In 2015, four agencies of the United Nations system, namely the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), granted Benin financial support of more than US$2.5 million over a three-year period to combat chronic malnutrition in the rural municipalities of Malanville and Karimama, in the north of the country, the most affected and the most nutritionally vulnerable in Benin with a malnutrition rate twice higher than the national average.