Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in Western Africa, formerly known as Dahomey or Dahomania. It has a small coast line with the Bight of Benin in the south, borders Togo in the west, Nigeria in the east, and Burkina Faso and Niger in the north. It has no particular connection to Benin City or the Kingdom of Benin, the source of the famous Benin Bronzes.

History

---

The African kingdom of Dahomey originated in Benin. By the 17th century, the kingdom, ruled by an oba, stretched beyond the borders of present-day Benin, covering a large part of West-Africa. The kingdom was prosperous and established slave trading relations with the Europeans (mostly Portuguese and Dutch) who first arrived in the late 15th century. The coastal part of the kingdom became known as the Slave Coast.

Dahomey was known for its distinct culture and traditions. Starting in 1729, Dahomey started a female army system, with legislation stating that all females would be inspected by the authorities at the age of 15. Those that were determined to be beautiful would be sent to the Palace to become royal wives while those that were ill or physically unattractive were executed, and the remainder were trained as soldiers for a period of two years. Human sacrifice was a common practice; on holidays and special occasions, thousands of slaves and prisoners of war were sacrifices for gods and ancestors.

More on [ Benin ]

Benin - Twitter Search

I posted 2 photos on Facebook in the album "IFADEM BENIN" http://bit.ly/7fnL0E
IFADEM (IFADEM) Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:55:38 -0000
I posted 2 photos on Facebook in the album "IFADEM BENIN" http://bit.ly/7fnL0E
@BrandyAjose Oh ok, I've never been to S. Africa, but I've been to Benin, Ghana, Togo, and Egypt...I say GO FOR IT!!!
RuuBabie (Chantal Brooke) Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:50:03 -0000
@BrandyAjose Oh ok, I've never been to S. Africa, but I've been to Benin, Ghana, Togo, and Egypt...I say GO FOR IT!!!
Bénin:Emprunt obligataire: 5.000.000.000 FCFA échappent à Parakou www.koaci.com/index.php?k=main&koaci=actualite_info&numero_article=3893
koaci (koaci.com) Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:20:33 -0000
Bénin:Emprunt obligataire: 5.000.000.000 FCFA échappent à Parakou www.koaci.com/index.php?k=main&koaci=actualite_info&numero_article=3893
my single screensaver is rythm 93.7, Benin! hit song of the week! http://bit.ly/4OXk7o
ucheurchnike (uchenna Nwogu) Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:10:36 -0000
my single screensaver is rythm 93.7, Benin! hit song of the week! http://bit.ly/4OXk7o
WHO: 13 countries affected by poliovirus linked to Nigeria: incl Benin, Botswana, Burkina-Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Togo.
HUMNEWS (HUMNEWS) Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:08:09 -0000
WHO: 13 countries affected by poliovirus linked to Nigeria: incl Benin, Botswana, Burkina-Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Togo.
Gonna visit family today, I think. Heading to Benin tomorrow? Not sure, I'll see!
xndidi (Ndidi) Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:08:32 -0000
Gonna visit family today, I think. Heading to Benin tomorrow? Not sure, I'll see!

Subscribe to Benin RSS feed

Benin, Africa