BeninBenin is a country in western Africa. Benin is nestled between Togo and Nigeria, the former on west border and the latter on the east. Niger and Burkina Faso also border Benin in the North, while Benin's southern edge sits on the Atlantic ocean.
One important distinction to make is between Benin- the country and the Benin Empire, which was a precolonial civilization centered around the area of present day Benin city in Nigeria. This article is about Benin- the country. The country was named Benin in 1975, a change from Dahomey. Dahomey, also the name of a precolonial empire, was chosen during colonial times and at independence to describe the area though the original empire did not extend through much of the present-day country. The name change was prompted to appease political and ethnic minority groups. The choice of 'Benin,' a neutral name not associated with any groups, was after the Bight of Benin, which was originally named after the Benin Empire.
Little is known about the ancient history of the area of present day Benin. The earliest known inward migration occurred in the 12th and 13th century; the immigrants were Yoruba people from the Oyo area of southwest Nigeria, and the Aja people from Tado area in eastern Togo. The Aja people lived on the coast but moved inland around the 16th century and settled among the Fon people, who already resided there. The mixture of these two groups formed the basis for the Dahomey kingdom, which was centered around current-day Abomey. This kingdom flourished during the 17th and 18th century through the strength of its warriors and tactful trade with European countries. The Dahomey culture had a strong military emphasis. Two of their signature elements were specially trained women warriors called Mino, and the practice of apprenticing young boy with experienced warriors. These respective elements have led to comparisons to ancient Greece Amazons and the Spartans' military culture.
Despite the military traditions, the kingdom remained relatively small, and localized mostly to the south and central areas of Benin. The kingdom was able to avoid subjugation by other near-by empires until the mid-18th century when the much larger Oyo empire extended its dominating influence. This domination was more for economic reasons since there was still a large measure of cultural independence from the Oyo empire, but the Dahomey kingdom was required to pay heavy taxes.
European exploration of the area intensified around the mid-17th century with the Portuguese as the major player, hence, the Portuguese name of Porto-Novo (New Port). This port and others set up but other European powers including the Dutch and the French have historical significance as main routes of the slave-trade enterprise. The Dahomey kingdom rulers supplied captured prisoners usually in return for financial compensation and firearms. After slavery abolition, an attempt by the Europeans to solidify control over African colonies led to a series of wars which culminated in the fall of the Dahomey kingdom to the French in 1894 and subsequent incorporation into French West Africa. The area was under a central French Governor, with the seat of government in Dakar. Up until the end of the second-world war, there was no direct representation of the colonial people in French central government, and the colonial economies were molded primarily around the supply and exportation of various raw materials to Europe. In the 1950's, with the build up of anti-imperial and nationalist movements in colonial Africa, the French gradually let go of their West African colonies, granting self-governance to the Republic of Dahomey in 1958 and independence on August 5th, 1960.
Similar to many new African countries, the immediate years after independence were characterized by political instability. President Hubert Maga, who was elected at independence was overthrown in a coup in 1963 by Colonel Christophe Soglo. Elections in 1964 led to Sourou-Migan Apithy becoming president. Rapid succession of coups and counter-coups led to four regime changes between 1965 and 1969. A quasi-democratic presidential council of three leaders, representing different ethnic groups, was established in 1970, only to be overthrown in 1972 by Major Mathieu Kerekou. President Kerekou retained power till 1991, during which he embraced Marxist-communist ideologies, resigned from the military, survived multiple overthrow attempts and was reelected three times. Political, economic, civil unrest and international pressure prompted Kerekou to abandon communism as official government policy in 1989. President Kerekou lost the election in 1991 to Nicephore Soglo, but Kerekou was re-elected under controversial circumstances in 1996. This second phase of Kerekou's presidency lasted 2-five-year terms; Benin constitution's 70 years age-limit barred him from running for additional terms. The current president is Yayi Boni.
Benin's economy is very dependent on subsistence agriculture and agricultural exports as it was during the colonial era. Political instability, adherence to communist ideologies and government bureaucracy hampered economic progress until the 1990's. Efforts since then have been focused on reduction of and less dependency on international loans, and a push towards privatization of several government run industries.
12th - 13th century- Migration of Aja and Yoruba to area
1600's- Dahomey Kingdom was established
17th century- Arrival of Europeans and start of Slave trade
1730's- Dahomey becomes a tributary of the Oyo empire
Late 19th century- Franco-Dahomean Wars
1894- Dahomey Kingdom is conquered and the area is incorporated into French West Africa
1946- Dahomey becomes oversees territory of France, territories send local representation to central French government council
1958- Dahomey becomes self-governing
1960- Dahomey independence with election of President Hubert Maga
1963- 1972- several military coups and regime changes
1972- President Kerekou becomes military ruler
1975- Republic of Dahomey becomes People's Republic of Benin, Marxist-communist ideology is declared as the government's official policy.
1980, 1984 and 1989- Kerekou re-elected
1989- Communist ideology abandoned, civil unrest and protests
1992- Nicephore Soglo becomes president, defeating incumbent Kerekou
1996, 2001- Kerekou re-elected and serves 2 five-year terms
2006- Yayi Boni becomes president. Kerekou is barred from contesting by constitutional 70-years age-limit.
Other facts: 2008 estimates
Population: 8.5 million; median age: 17.1; ~45% are less than 14 years.Life expectancy: 58.6; M- 57.4, F- 59.8
Literacy rate: 34.7%
HIV prevalence- 1.9% estimate in 2003
Ethnic groups: Fon 39.2%, Aja 15.2%, Yoruba 12.3%, Bariba 9.2%, Peulh 7%, Ottamari 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa 4%, Dendi 2.5%, other 1.6%
Languages: French (official),;Fon and Yoruba in south; Nagot, Bariba and Dendi in north
Cities: Cotonou- largest, Porto Novo- capital
Economy: GDP (PPP): $1500. GDP real growth rate: 5%.
Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF)
Internet TLD: .bj
Random fact.
Voodoo has it origins in Benin.
Sources and for additional information
CIA factbook
US State department site
BBC Benin profile, timeline
Wikipedia Benin, Dahomey
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