Benin
Benin, a narrow, north-south strip of land in West Africa, lies
between the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer. Benin's latitude
ranges from 6o30N to 12o30N and its longitude from 10E to 3o40E.
Benin is bounded by Togo to the west, Burkina Faso and Niger to the
north, Nigeria to the east, and the Bight of Benin to the south.
With an area of 112,622 square kilometers, roughly the size of
Pennsylvania, Benin extends from the Niger River in the north to the
Atlantic Ocean in the south, a distance of 700 kilometers (about 500
mi.). Although the coastline measures 121 kilometers (about 80 mi.),
the country measures about 325 kilometers (about 215 mi.) at its
widest point. It is one of the smaller countries in West Africa:
eight times smaller than Nigeria, its neighbor to the east. It is,
however, twice as large as Togo, its neighbor to the west. A relief
map of Benin shows that it has little variation in elevation
(average elevation 200 meters).
The country can be divided into four main areas from the south to
the north. The low-lying, sandy, coastal plain (highest elevation 10
meters) is, at most, 10 kilometers wide. It is marshy and dotted
with lakes and lagoons communicating with the ocean. The plateaus of
southern Benin (altitude between 20 meters and 200 meters) are split
by valleys running north to south along the Couffo, Zou, and Oueme
Rivers. An area of flat lands dotted with rocky hills whose altitude
seldom reaches 400 meters extends around Nikki and Save. Finally, a
range of mountains extends along the northwest border and into Togo;
this is the Atacora, with the highest point, Mont Sokbaro, at 658
meters. Two types of landscape predominate in the south. Benin has
fields of lying fallow, mangroves, and remnants of large sacred
forests. In the rest of the country, the savanna is covered with
thorny scrubs and dotted with huge baobab trees. Some forests line
the banks of rivers. In the north and the northwest of Benin the
Reserve du W du Niger and Pendjari National Park attract tourists
eager to see elephants, lions, antelopes, hippos, and monkeys.
Benin's climate is hot and humid. Annual rainfall in the coastal
area averages 36 cm. (14 in.), not particularly high for coastal
West Africa. Benin has two rainy and two dry seasons. The principal
rainy season is from April to late July, with a shorter less intense
rainy period from late September to November. The main dry season is
from December to April, with a short cooler dry season from late
July to early September. Temperatures and humidity are high along
the tropical coast. In Cotonou, the average maximum temperature is
31oC (89oF); the minimum is 24oC (75oF).
Variations in temperature increase when moving north through a
savanna and plateau toward the Sahel. A dry wind from the Sahara
called the Harmattan blows from December to March. Grass dries up,
the vegetation turns reddish brown, and a veil of fine dust hangs
over the country, causing the skies to be overcast. It also is the
season when farmers burn brush in the fields.
The majority of Benin's 7.86 million people live in the south. The
population is young, with a life expectancy of 53 years. About 42
African ethnic groups live in this country; these various groups
settled in Benin at different times and also migrated within the
country. Ethnic groups include the Yoruba in the southeast (migrated
from Nigeria in the 12th century); the Dendi in the north-central
area (they came from Mali in the 16th century); the Bariba and the
Fulbe (Peul) in the northeast; the Betammaribe and the Somba in the
Atacora Range; the Fon in the area around Abomey in the South
Central and the Mina, Xueda, and Aja (who came from Togo) on the
coast.
Recent migrations have brought other African nationals to Benin that
include Nigerians, Togolese, and Malians. The foreign community also
includes many Lebanese and Indians involved in trade and commerce.
The personnel of the many European embassies and foreign aid
missions and of nongovernmental organizations and various missionary
groups account for a large number of the 5,500 European population.
Several religions are practiced in Benin. Animism is widespread
(50%), and its practices vary from one ethnic group to the other.
Arab merchants introduced Islam in the north and among the Yoruba.
European missionaries brought Christianity to the south and central
areas of Benin. Muslims account for 20% of the population and
Christians for 30%. Many nominal Muslims and Christians continue to
practice animistic traditions. Voodoo originated in Benin and was
introduced to Brazil and the Caribbean Islands by African slaves
taken from this particular area of the Slave Coast. |
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Benin was the seat of one of the great medieval African kingdoms
called Danhomey. Europeans began arriving in the area in the 18th
century, as the kingdom of Danhomey was expanding its territory. The
Portuguese, the French, and the Dutch established trading posts
along the coast (Porto-Novo, Ouidah, Cotonou), and traded weapons
for slaves. Slave trade ended in 1848. Then, the French signed
treaties with Kings of Abomey (Guezo, Glele) and Hogbonou (Toffa) to
establish French protectorates in the main cities and ports.
However, King Behanzin fought the French influence, which cost him
deportation to Martinique. As of 1900, the territory became a French
colony ruled by a French Governor. Expansion continued to the North
(kingdoms of Parakou, Nikki, Kandi), up to the border with former
Upper Volta. On December 4, 1958, it became the Republique du
Dahomey, self-governing within the French community, and on August
1, 1960, the Republic of Benin gained full independence from France. |
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