The official language of Benin, a former French colony, is French. French is known and spoken widely here, as are of course the local languages of Fon and Yoruba. There are also many other less widely spoken tribal languages in Benin.
Two-thirds of Benin's population lives in the southern reaches of the nation. There are 42 ethnic groups in Benin, the most important of which are the Fon, Aja, Yoruba and Bariba or Fulani. The language and ways of the Fon are particularly dominant in the south of Benin.
Interestingly, there are around 5,500 Europeans who currently live in Benin. In the language of the Fon, these Europeans are referred to as “Yovo.”
In taking a trip to Africa, it is critical to determine in advance whether your time there will overlap with the Harmattan, a seasonal Saharan wind that blankets West Africa with a coating of Saharan sands. During this season, the air in the skies above you will be filled with hazy dust. The northern regions of Benin experience a particularly strong windy season. Here, the dust begins in December, lasting through March. The Harmattan can be so strong that your eyes can barely see, and you have a hard time feeling the very rays of the sun. Walking down any street during the Harmattan, you might have a difficult time seeing to the end of the street, let alone the color of the sky. The Harmattan ends with the first rain of the season; the raindrops wash away the dust built up in the sky. And by the time the Harmattan is over, the people living in the region have swallowed more than their share of dust.
The Beninese city of Cotonou is not only the nation's trade headquarters but also its most populous city, with around 2 million people. Cotonou is a port city and really the heart of Benin. There are world-standard hotels here, though not many.
There are motorcycles and motorized scooters everywhere in Cotonou, which means, of course, a constant battle against air pollution. In fact, the pollution is so bad in Cotonou that you can see lots of people covering their mouths and noses when they go out. The many motorcycle taxis you see here are known locally as “zemidjans.”
People wanting to catch a ride negotiate a price before hopping on the back to be driven somewhere. It's always best to bargain first if you wish to guarantee how much you'll be paying, or you might find yourself shelling out far more than you expected. If you are wondering, by the way, how you are supposed to determine the zemidjans from the normal motorcycles and motorized scooters you see everywhere in Cotonou, just know that zemidjan drivers all wear the same color shirt, yellow, to distinguish themselves. In fact, these shirts also have numbers on their backs and pockets to help identify the zemidjan drivers; these numbers correspond with their license plate numbers. Of course, in the heat of the day, one of the usual sights you will encounter in Cotonou is that of taxi drivers snoozing in the shade of trees.
The gas stations throughout Cotonou are absolutely packed, what with all the motor traffic here. You can see long lines of people waiting, and in fact there are even many individual sellers of gas who sell fuel from non-station settings for those who don't want to wait as long or pay quite as much. These unofficial gas sales points sell their fuel in plastic bottles. This gas is generally imported illegally from Nigeria, and is much cheaper than that sold at the stations. You can find every size of bottle filled with fuel here, from 1 liter to 20 liters.
The open market of Tokpa is one spot in Benin that visitors to this country absolutely must see. An open market is a critical way to understand a country's culture. The Tokpa open market is West Africa's largest wholesale market, and really, you can find almost everything imaginable here. On entering Tokpa, you become immediately aware of just how rich in fruits and vegetables this country is. There are just so many varieties of produce here… People come to the Tokpa market, which is set up on the coast, from Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.
Benin possesses a beautiful coastline, which stretches for a mere 112 kilometers. You cannot help but notice how very few people are actually swimming on the Cotonou coast. There are not many tourists, and the locals are not huge fans of the waters here. So the coast is relatively empty.
As for the Cotonou port, it is extremely busy. Ships constantly come in, are emptied of goods, and head out again. Benin imports much -- largely from France -- and many ships are lined up, waiting to empty their wares. The prevalence of trade with France is, of course, linked to the fact that Benin is a former French colony. At the same time, Benin is quite underdeveloped, with an economy that relies on agriculture and regional trade. Benin exports cotton, unrefined oil, palm tree products and cacao.
As for religion in Benin, Islam was first brought here by Arab traders, and although around half of the country is actually Christian there is still a significant (around 24.4 percent) percentage of the population that is Muslim.
So, with its gorgeous Atlantic coastline, its unforgettable open market of Tokpa and vibrant trade and, of course, its flow of motorcycles, Cotonou beckons for an unusual, unique trip to West Africa.
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Capital: Porto-Novo [official], Cotonou [de facto]
Official language: French
Government: republic
President: Thomas Yayi Boni
Area: 112,622 square kilometers
Population: 8,791,832*
Gross domestic product (PPP): $12.83 billion**
Main religions: Christianity (42.8 percent), Islam (24.4 percent), Vodoun (17.3 percent)
*July 2009 estimate **2008 estimate
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Benin is the first nation on the continent of Africa to have made the transition from a dictatorship to democracy without the spilling of blood. Benin has a land mass of 112,000 square kilometers, which makes it one of the smallest nations in West Africa. Its neighbors are Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria. Benin is notable for having been the home of the once-powerful Kingdom of Dahomey.
Benzer Haberler 
