Western Africa · AfricaBenin
Discover Benin - cradle of Voodoo religion, home of the legendary Dahomey Amazons, and a small West African nation with an outsized cultural legacy.
Where Is Benin?
Benin is a country in Western Africa. Its official capital is Porto-Novo, while the government sits in Cotonou.
- Capital Porto-Novo (government: Cotonou)
- Population 14.8M
- Area 112,622 km²
Benin is where Voodoo was born. Not the Hollywood version with dolls and pins, but a complex, living religion called Vodun that has been practiced here for centuries and spread to Haiti, Brazil, and Louisiana through the slave trade. Every January 10th, Benin celebrates National Voodoo Day with ceremonies, dances, and animal sacrifices in the coastal city of Ouidah. It is one of the few places in the world where a traditional African religion has official recognition and a public holiday.
But Benin's history runs deeper than spirituality. The Kingdom of Dahomey, which flourished from the 17th to 19th century, was one of the most powerful states in West Africa. Its all-female military regiment, the Dahomey Amazons, were so fierce they terrified French colonial troops. Today Benin is a narrow strip of land wedged between Togo and Nigeria, with stilt villages built over Lake Nokoue, crumbling colonial forts along the Slave Coast, and one of the most stable democracies in West Africa - a quiet achiever in a turbulent region.
At a glance
Largest cities in Benin
Cotonou
Porto-Novo
Abomey
Ouidah
Famous people from Benin
Angélique Kidjo
MusicFive-time Grammy Award-winning singer and activist, often called Africa's premier diva, born in Ouidah
Djimon Hounsou
FilmTwo-time Academy Award-nominated actor known for Blood Diamond and Amistad, born in Cotonou
Nicephore Soglo
PoliticsFormer president who oversaw Benin's transition to multiparty democracy in the 1990s, a model for peaceful political change in Africa
Romuald Hazoume
ArtInternationally acclaimed contemporary artist known for mask sculptures made from recycled jerry cans
Traditional cuisine of Benin
- Amiwo
- Cornmeal cooked in a rich tomato and crab sauce, a beloved Beninese comfort food with a distinctive reddish color
- Akpan
- Fermented corn dough yogurt drink with a tangy flavor, served cold as a refreshing street snack
- Pate Rouge
- Red corn paste served with spicy sauce and grilled meat or fish, a street food staple across Benin
- Kuli-Kuli
- Crunchy deep-fried peanut snacks shaped into balls or sticks, sold by vendors everywhere
- Wagasi
- Fried Fulani cheese with a squeaky texture, seasoned with chili and eaten as a protein-rich snack
Nature and landmarks in Benin
- Pendjari National ParkNational Park
- One of the last refuges for West African lions, elephants, and hippos, considered the best wildlife park in the region
- Lake NokoueLake
- Vast lagoon near Cotonou where the stilt village of Ganvie houses 30,000 people living entirely on water
- W National ParkNational Park
- UNESCO-listed transboundary park shared with Niger and Burkina Faso, named for the W-shaped bend in the Niger River
- Tanougou FallsLandmark
- Scenic waterfall in the Atakora Mountains surrounded by lush vegetation, a refreshing swimming spot for visitors
Sports in Benin
- Football
- The Squirrels qualified for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals, a historic achievement for the small nation
- Athletics
- Growing presence in sprinting events at the Olympics, with increasing investment in youth athletic programs
Did you know?
Benin is the birthplace of Voodoo (Vodun), which is still practiced by roughly one in ten Beninese and honored with a national holiday every January 10
Ganvie on Lake Nokoue is the largest lake village in Africa, with 30,000 people living in stilt houses over water
The Dahomey Amazons were an all-female military regiment that fought the French colonial army in the 1890s
Benin's Dantokpa Market in Cotonou is one of the largest open-air markets in West Africa, selling everything from fabric to Voodoo fetishes
The country was called Dahomey until 1975, when it was renamed the People's Republic of Benin after a Marxist coup
Every January 10th, thousands gather in Ouidah to celebrate National Voodoo Day with traditional ceremonies
Can you find Benin on a map?
Drop a pin where you think it is and see how close you got. A few rounds and you will place Benin and its neighbours without a second thought.
