Republic of Benin

COUNTRY NAME

Conventional long form: Republic of Benin
Conventional short form: Benin
Local long form: Republique du Benin
Local short form: Benin
Former: Dahomey

CAPITAL CITY

Porto Novo is the capital city of Benin.

CURRENCY

West African CFA franc is the official currency of Benin.

HISTORY

The African kingdom of Dahomey was first established on the Abomey plain.
The kingdom was consisted of an ethnic mix of different populations.
Dahomey had a strict military culture and boys and girls were recruited into the army at a very young age.
Dahomey was also famous for instituting an elite female soldier corps, called Ahosi or "our mothers" in the Fongbe language.
Emphasis on military culture earned Dahomey the nickname of "black Sparta" from European observers.
Human sacrifice was a common practice and often a sign of prestige and potency.
Slave trade was rampant in the region for three centuries and the country came to be known as "the Slave Coast".
In 1885, the slave trade declined due to the banning of trans-Atlantic trade by Britain and other countries.
This decline continued until 1885, when the last Portuguese slave ship departed from the coast of present-day Benin bound for Brazil.
the Ketu, Icha, Dassa, Anago, and other Yoruba-speaking people were other groups that inhabited the region.
These groups were in constant conflict with the Dahomeans.
Dahomey was colonized by the French in 1892 and was included in the French West Africa colony in 1899.
France granted autonomy to the Republic of Dahomey in 1958.
Dahomey gained full independence from France on August 1, 1960.
Ethnic conflicts and social turbulence followed for 12 years after independence.
Political leaders agreed to form a presidential council after the cancellation of elections in 1970.
The council was overthrown by a coup led by Mathieu Kérékou in 1972.
A Marxist government was formed under the control of Military Council of the Revolution (CNR).
The country was named People's Republic of Benin in 1975.
A parliamentary capitalist system was reestablished in the 1980s.

DEMOGRAPHICS

Benin’s ethno-linguistic groups are represented by three main language families:

Niger-Congo
Nilo-Saharan
Afroasiatic.

The Hausa community represents the Afroasiatic group.
The Dendi community (descendants of the Songhai Empire) represents the Nilo-Saharan group.
The Dendi language is dominant among the Muslim communities in the northern region.
The Niger-Congo family consists of Mande, West-Atlantic, Benue-Congo, Gur (Voltaic) and Kwa languages which are represented by the Boko/Busa, Fulbe, Yoruba, Yom and Tado communities respectively.
The Fon are the dominant ethnic group.
Other groups are Yoruba, Aja, Bariba, Ayizo, Fulbe and Gun.
Descendants of the Brazilian slaves inhabit the southern coastal areas in small numbers.
Small communities consist of French, Lebanese, East Asians and Indians.
Animism is an important part of traditional religious practices.
Roman Catholicism (27.1%) and Islam (24.4%) are the predominant religions.
Other faiths include Vodun (17.3%), Celestial Christian (5%), Methodist (3.2%), Other Christian denominations (7.5%), Traditional religions (6%) and other religions (8.4%).
The town of Ouidah on the central coast is the spiritual center of Beninese Vodun.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Benin is ruled by a republican government.
Administrative divisions consist of 12 departments namely: Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau and Zou.
Independence Day (1 August 1960) is observed as a national holiday.
The Constitution was adopted by referendum on 2 December 1990.
The president is the chief of state and head of government.
The cabinet consists of a council of ministers appointed by the president.
The president is elected by popular vote to serve a five-year term.
The legal system is based on French civil law and customary law.
Benin has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
The legislative branch is represented by a unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consisting of 83 members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms.
The judicial branch is represented by the Constitutional Court (Cour Constitutionnelle), Supreme Court (Cour Supreme) and the High Court of Justice.

CULTURE

Vodun (Voodoo) is said to have originated in Benin.
It was introduced to the Caribbean islands by the slaves exported from this region.
Vodun is one of the official religions of Benin.
A National Vodun Holiday is celebrated on January 10.
Akan-based names of people are common some regions which are based on the day of week an individual were born.
Twins are also given special names in the Beninois culture.
Education in schools is imparted in local languages.

ECONOMY

The economy of Benin is still in a developing stage.
The country depends primarily on subsistence agriculture, cotton production and regional trade.
Efforts are being made to develop the tourism, agriculture and foreign investment sectors.
Limited availability of electric power hinders the development of industries.
GDP (purchasing power parity) as calculated in 2007 was $12.1 billion.
37.4% of the population is below poverty line.
Agricultural produce consists of cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews and livestock.
The main industries are textiles, food processing, construction materials and cement.
Export commodities include cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products and seafood.
Import commodities include foodstuffs, capital goods and petroleum products.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Telephone services are underdeveloped and limited.
There is only one fixed line connection per 100 persons.
Mobile cellular usage is relatively widespread.
There are six radio broadcast stations and six television broadcast stations.
Internet facilities are limited.
Bhutan has 5 airports of which one has paved runways.
The railway network covers a distance of 758 km.
Roadways span a total distance of 16,000 km.
The waterways are 150 km long and located along the River Niger.
The main ports and terminals are located at Cotonou.

EDUCATION

Education system in Benin is underdeveloped.
34.7% of the population is literate.
Literacy rates are higher among males (47.9%) than females (23.3%)
Local languages are used as a medium to impart education in schools.

NEIGHBOUR COUNTRIES

Benin is surrounded by:

Togo (east)
Nigeria (west)
Burkina Faso (south)
Niger (south)
Bight of Benin (south)

GEOGRAPHICAL SETTINGS

Benin is located in West Africa.
Its geographical coordinates are 9 30 N, 2 15 E.
The country covers a total area of 112,620 sq km.
The coastline is 121 km.
The climate is mostly tropical.
The southern region is hot and humid while the north is semiarid.
The terrain comprises of flat to undulating plains with a few hills and low mountains.
The highest point is Mont Sokbaro standing at 658 m.
Natural resources include small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble and timber.
23.53% of the land is arable.
Hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds are common in the northern region during December and March.
Poaching of wildlife, deforestation and desertification are the major environmental concerns.

FREEDOM

In 1958, France granted autonomy to the Republic of Dahomey.
The country gained full independence on August 1, 1960.

NOTABLE PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTRY

Djimon Gaston Hounsou (Academy Award-nominated actor, dancer and fashion model)
Angelique Kidjo (Singer)

TOTAL POPULATION

According to a 2008 census, the total population was estimated to be 8,294,941.
The annual population growth rate is 2.619% (2008 est.).
Birth rate: 37.36 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 11.67 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)