About Benin

A brief history about this land:

The history of Benin is a succession of kingdoms. In 1704, France received permission to erect a port at Ouidah, and in 1752 the Portuguese founded Porto Novo. On June 22, 1894, the territory was named by decree the "Colony of Dahomey and its dependences" and was granted autonomy which it retained until October 18, 1904 when it became part of French West Africa. On December 4, 1958 the Republic was proclaimed. Dahomey became independent on August 1, 1960.

Location: - West Africa

Area: 112,622 Sq. km - about 2/3 the size of Portugal

Capital: Porto Novo

Population: 7,460,025 inhabitants (July 2005 est).

Language: French is the official language.

National Motto: Brotherhood – Justice – Labor

Other Facts:

Benin has about 42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba

Over half the people speak Fon. Yoruba, Mina, Bariba and Dendi are the other important languages.

Benin constitutes a long stretch of land perpendicular to the Coast of the Gulf of Guinea. It is bordered on the North by Burkina Faso and the Republic of Niger, on the East by the Federal Republic of Nigeria and on the West by the Republic of Togo.