Essay, Research Paper: Benin

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-�Allada, Porto-Novo,
and Dahomey-�in 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