Benin
West African nation
Benin is a country in West Africa, bordered by Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Formerly called Dahomey, it was renamed in 1975 after the historical Benin Empire, whose territory lay mostly in present-day Nigeria.
The country is known for its role in the Atlantic slave trade and as the birthplace of vodun (voodoo) religion.
Benin's former name
- AmazonsLegendary all-woman fighters
- French colonizationOverseas territorial acquisition by Paris
- independenceFreedom from external control
- slave tradeCommerce in human beings
Portuguese · colonial · republic · precolonial · monarchy
Continent's western bulge
- Gulf of GuineaAtlantic inlet, African coast
- Niger RiverWest African watercourse
- SahelSemi-arid African transition zone
- NigeriaWest African federal republic
Burkina Faso · Francophone · African Union · savanna · coastline · tropical · lagoon · Atlantic
Nigerian people and language
- bronze castingForming objects from melted alloy
- textilesWoven or knit materials
- oral traditionCulture passed by speech
- ceremoniesFormal observances with ritual
Plant fiber for textiles
- agricultureCultivation of land, livestock
- palm oilTropical fruit-derived cooking fat
- cashewsEdible kidney-shaped tree nuts
- sheaAfrican oil-nut tree
port · trade · export · subsistence farming · markets · textiles · cassava · yams
Ceremonial set of actions
- ancestorsThose from whom one descends
- spiritsLiquor or apparitions
- divinationForetelling through mystical means
- fetishesObjects of irrational devotion
priestess · oracles · possession · ceremony · sacrifice · healing · sacred · shrines
State with elected leaders
- National AssemblyA nation's legislative body
- presidentElected leader of nation
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- democracyRule by the people
parliament · administration · government · diplomacy · elections · legislature · executive · multiparty
Dahomey
Benin's former name
- AmazonsLegendary all-woman fighters
- French colonizationOverseas territorial acquisition by Paris
- independenceFreedom from external control
slave trade · Portuguese · colonial · republic · precolonial · monarchy
West Africa
Continent's western bulge
- Gulf of GuineaAtlantic inlet, African coast
- Niger RiverWest African watercourse
- SahelSemi-arid African transition zone
Nigeria · Burkina Faso · Francophone · African Union · savanna · coastline · tropical · lagoon · Atlantic
Yoruba
Nigerian people and language
- bronze castingForming objects from melted alloy
- textilesWoven or knit materials
- oral traditionCulture passed by speech
cotton
Plant fiber for textiles
- agricultureCultivation of land, livestock
- palm oilTropical fruit-derived cooking fat
- cashewsEdible kidney-shaped tree nuts
shea · port · trade · export · subsistence farming · markets · textiles · cassava · yams · fishing
ritual
Ceremonial set of actions
- ancestorsThose from whom one descends
- spiritsLiquor or apparitions
- divinationForetelling through mystical means
fetishes · priestess · oracles · possession · ceremony · sacrifice · healing · sacred · shrines · Legba
republic
State with elected leaders
- National AssemblyA nation's legislative body
- presidentElected leader of nation
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
democracy · parliament · administration · government · diplomacy · elections · legislature · executive · multiparty
- CFA ZoneCFA franc, monetary union, banknotes, Burkina Faso, Cameroon
- Gulf of GuineaNiger Delta, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea
- AfricaEgypt, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania
- African GeographySouth Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, Ghana
- ancient civilizationsAncient Egypt, Sumer, Ancient Greece, Aztecs, Egypt
- KingdomsUnited Kingdom, England, Denmark, Belgium, Spain
BeninNiger
West African republic
Mali · Burkina Faso · Chad · Central African Republic · Guinea
BeninNigeria
West African federal republic
Ghana · Liberia · Sierra Leone · Gambia · Angola
- Bight of BeninWest African coastal indentation