History of benin republic pdf

It covers an area of 44,310 sqm and is home to about 11 million people. Revised primary history kingdom of benin revised for 2016, this book contains essential historical information and activities on kingdom of benin study of non european society which contrasts with british history. Provides an overview, facts and figures and history of this west african nation. Today, the region is one of the most politically stable in west africa and continues to overcome the torrid legacies of its past. Benin officially called the republic of benin is a country in africa. The history of the great benin empire as a nation is the record of a state that was established 2300yrs before any contact was made with european inferior. Many of the first republic politicians were not corrupt since the majority of them came into politics with ideologies and principles. The traditional date of the founding of the local dynasty is1625, when three brothers of the dahomey people rule adjacent territories along the lower reaches of the mono river. The largest religious group in benin is roman catholicism.

The republic of benin holds the record for the shortestlived country in african history. The origin of the edo people remains on edo land and cannot have its origin from egypt which lends none of her culture to the edo. Before 1700, there were a few important city states along the coast primarily of the aja ethnic group, but also including yoruba and gbe peoples and a mass of tribal regions inland composed. The republic of benin is from north to south a long stretched country in west africa, situated east of togo and west of nigeria, it is bordered to the north by burkina faso and niger, in south by the the bight of benin, in the gulf of guinea, that part of the tropical north atlantic ocean which is roughly south of west africa. Click for a detailed map pdf this map does not reflect a position by unicef on the legal status of any country or territory or the delimitation of any frontiers. The benin creation story has it that the universe was covered with water and at the middle of the water there was a tree and on this tree there lived a bird called owonwon. Bordered by togo, nigeria, burkina faso, and niger, benin has a 121kilometerlong coastline on the gulf of guinea and a.

The name benin commemorates an african kingdom that flourished from the 15th to the 17th century in what is now southwest nigeria. Benin republic of benin country profile west africa. However, by the 15th century, a single ruler, known as the oba, had asserted control. Benin became independent from france on august 1, 1960. Benin is named after the body of water on which it lies the bight of benin. The nearest inform and style to edo culture is that of ancient romans whose laws, cultural, social and architectural forms compare in similar terms to the ancient benin edo. The constitutional court shall see to the regularity of the referendum and shall proclaim its results. Most people live on the small southern coastline on the bight of benin the official language of benin is french. Bordered by togo, nigeria, burkina faso, and niger, benin has a 121kilometerlong coastline on the gulf of guinea and a population of close to 11. The largest ethnic group in benin is fondahomey which constitutes 39% of the total population.

The french assembled these various groups together into the colony of french dahomey, which was. Wealthy businessman and political novice patrice talon was elected to a fiveyear presidential term in 2016 on a cleangovernment platform. In the south, according to oral tradition, a group of aja migrated 12th or th cent. The current country of benin combines three areas which had different political and ethnic systems prior to french colonial control. At some point, the creator osanobua decided to populate the earth so he sent down his three sons whom he gave the choice of selecting one special gift each. Later, allada became the capital of great ardra, a state whose kings ruled with the consent of the elders of the people. Benin empire was one of the oldest precolonial empires with capital benin city an iconic empire in history of nigeria. Benins history is one of great violence and tragedy, but also of perseverance.

Benin has recently been carrying out key economic and structural reforms. History timeline of the african nation of benin the former republic of dahomey. As a political unit, benin was created by the french colonial conquest at the end of the 19th century. It is bordered by nigeria on the east, togo on the west, and by burkina faso and niger on the north.

Three years after the coup that brought major kerekou to power, the name was changed to the peoples republic of benin, reflecting the marxistleninist ideology of the new government. The culture is eclectic, largely a result of many different ethnic groups in the countr. History more than 350 years ago the area now known as benin was split into numerous principalities. The nigerian civil war, also known as the biafran war, was a bloody and violent conflict that started in 1967 and ended in 1970.

Benin is a stable democracy, despite some tension surrounding the legislative elections held on april 28, 2019. Benin, officially republic of benin, french republique du benin, formerly until 1975 dahomey or 197590 peoples republic of benin, country of western. Benins presentday borders were shaped by the kingdom of dahomey, which extended through the region in the mid1800s, and by european countries trying to establish. A pdf version of this book is available on the websites above. The world bank supports benins poverty reduction strategy to increase growth, improve basic services access, governance and institutional capacity building. Benin was the seat of one of the great medieval african kingdoms.

Akaba of abomey conquered his neighbouring ruler dan and called the new kingdom danhomey, later shortened by french colonisers. Among the languages used, fon is the most important since it is. Colonial benin formerly, republique du dahomeyrepublic of dahomeyedit. The origin and settling down of the edo article pdf available in anthropos. Benin is a west africa country which after democracy was dividing into many cities. The three main kingdoms created by the fon were that of allada, founded in the 16th century, it was the most powerful kingdom in ajaland before it fell to the armies of dahomey abomey. Portonovo is the capital and cotonou is the largest city and chief port. The seat of government is in cotonou, the countrys largest city. Republic of benin benin republic of botswana botswana. Introduction benin is a frenchspeaking country of west africa with 114,763 km2 and an estimated population of 6 769 914 inhabitants according to the third general census of the population and dwelling rgph3, 2002 of 2002.

History of benin formerly dahomey nations online project. In 1990, benin abandoned marxist ideology, began moving toward multiparty democracy, and changed its name again, to the republic of benin. History of the benin people the benin creation story. During the th century, the indigenous edo people were run by a group of local chieftains. Before 1975, the republic of benin was known as dahomey, its french colonial name. Languages such as fon and yoruba are commonly spoken. History of the benin people in nigeria and the stories. This number had increased to approximately one thousand in 2005. The republic of benin is a country located west africa. Benin history, language and culture world travel guide. Is a benin republic information portal dedicated to providing relevant information to all to africa and the world about the coastal city of republic of benin. Each king pledged to leave his successor more land than he inherited, achieved by waging war with his neighbours. It consists of a narrow wedge of territory extending northward for about 420 miles 675 kilometres from the gulf of guinea in the atlantic ocean. As for human resources in benin, there is one physician for every 7,011 inhabitants, one nurse for 2,799 inhabitants, one midwife for 1,317 inhabitants and one laboratory technician for every 15,185 inhabitants.

Prior to this, the area that is now the republic of benin was divided largely between two coastal kingdoms, dahomey and portonovo, and a large area of various tribes in the north. The traditional date of the founding of the local dynasty is1625, when three brothers of the dahomey people rule adjacent territories along the lower reaches of the. Right to form political parties article 5 political parties shall cooperate in the expression of suffrage. The republic of benin is located in west africa along the gulf of guinea. Even as it struggles to address persistent economic challenges and general social discontent, the government of benin is working closely with unicef to create a healthier environment. There is a lot of traditional history at both the benin and lagos ends relating to the origin of what is now lagos, its ruler and its connection with benin. A chronology of key events in the history of benin, from 1946 to the present. The republic of benin was one of the shortestlived. But perhaps to avoid inadequacies and controversy which the academics claim surround traditional history, we may like to hear what some modern historians have to say on this subject. Benin, officially republic of benin, french republique du benin, formerly until 1975 dahomey or 197590 peoples republic of benin, country of western africa. History and characters of the republic of benin italafrica centrale. The republic of benin is a small west african country. Table of contents corruption in nigeria historycorruption in nigeria causeseffects of corruption in nigeriasolution to. Benin dahomey summary the united states recognized the republic of dahomey on august 1, 1960, in a congratulatory message from president dwight d.

A guide to the united states history of recognition, diplomatic, and consular relations, by country, since 1776. Spelt whydah in history books written in english, it is the. Benin history, language and culture history of benin. In the precolonial period, the territory comprised a multiplicity of independent states, differing in language and culture. Facts about the republic of benin, cotonou, port novo. Ebi continues to relate stories and histories of the obas of benin, and also introduces two similar objects to that of the bell of the oba. The republic of benin was formed in 1960 when the colony of french dahomey gained independence from france. The modern republic of benin, given that name only in 1975, is the successor to one of west africas most interesting and longlasting kingdoms, that of dahomey. The history of benin is a succession of several kingdoms, it was the seat of dahomey, one of the great medieval african kingdoms.

In each city we have museums which keep the history of each culture, where they come from and remember us our grandparents who were involved in the slavery history. Complete history and culture of benin republic, gove. Benin was a french colony from the late 19th century until 1960. The south was occupied mainly by ewespeaking peoples, who traced their traditional origins to the town of tado in modern togo. Benin simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Benin was divided based on the culture this means each culture hold some part in benin culture. Learn more about the history, geography, and culture of benin in this article. The origin of benin and its early rulers kingdom of benin. List of books and articles about benin history online. Dahomey was a french colony of and a part of french west africa from 1904 to 1959.