Benin

Benin, independent nation of W Africa, formerly called Dahomey. Once

a French protectorate, it is a country of 40 ethnic tribal groups and a

low-level economy.

Land and Economy

Located in the bulge on the S side of W Africa, Benin is bordered by

Nigeria, Toga, Berkina Faso, and Niger, with 75 mi (121km) on the

Gulf of Guinea. The coast is hot and humid, and there are two rainy

and two dry seasons; average annual rainfall is 32in (813mm). Benin

has three plateaus, one fertile, another of bare rocks, and a third

with streams flowing to the Volta and Niger rivers and including the

Atakora range. The E section is a plain. Subsistence agriculture is the

economic base. Palm products and cotton account for half of export

revenues.

People

The leading class in Benin is composed of male-line descendants of

the Aja (Fons, or Dahomey) who had established the early kingdom.

Trained for civil service by the French, they are the best educated;

literacy is 25% among school-age children. In the N are the nomadic

Fulani and the Somba tribe, hunters with no political organization; E

are Baribas. 90% of the population is rural, and 65% practices animist

religion. French is the common language.

Government

Benin has been under military rule since 1970. The constitution of

1977 instituted a national assembly, whose members belong to the

sole legal political party, the Benin People's Revolutionary Party.

History

Benin's history dates back to three principalities-ťAllada, Porto-Novo,

and Dahomey-ťin the S area who were being pushed by the N

Kingdom of Abomey in the 16th century. Dahomey was the most

aggressive, pushing N and selling slaves. In 1863 the king of

Porto-Novo sought French protection. By 1892 France had

subjugated all groups and made them protectorates as part of French

West Africa. In 1960 the country became independent as Dahomey.

The official name was changed to Benin in 1976. Economic and

regional rivalries have caused numerous military coup d'‚tats and

changes of government since 1960. The Marxist-Leninist military

government in power since 1972, led by Brig. Gen. Mathieu Kerekou,

relaxed its authority somewhat during the late 1970s and improved

relations with France. Benin became the center of an international

environmental controversy in 1988 when it became known that

European nations planned to dump toxic wastes there.

Profile

Official name: People's Republic of Benin

Area: 43,483sq mi (112,621sq km)

Population: 4,663,832

Density: 107.3per sq mi (41.4per sq km)

Chief cities: Porto-Novo (capital);

Cotonou Government: Military

Religion: Animist, Christian, and Moslem (Muslim)

Language: French(official)

Monetary unit: CFA franc Gross

domestic product: $1,400,000,000

Per capita income: $340

Industries: food processing, including beer, palm oil

Agriculture: peanuts, cotton, coffee, tobacco

Minerals: petroleum

Trading partners: France (major), other members of European

Common Market, franc zone countries