| Benign | |
 | |
| Flag | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Capital city | (official) Porto-Novo (seat of government) Cotonou |
|---|---|
| Area | 114 763 km² |
| Population | 11 175 697 hab. () |
| Density | 97,38 inhab./km² |
| Nice | Beninese |
| Ocean | South Atlantic |
| Watercourse | Oueme, Niger |
| Minimum altitude | 0 m (Atlantic Ocean) |
| Maximum altitude | 658 m (mount Sokbaro) |
| Form of State | representative democracy |
| Official language | French |
| Other languages | Fon, Yoruba, other tribal languages |
| Change | CFA franc (XOF) |
| Electricity | 220 V/50 Hz, European plug |
| Telephone prefix | 229 |
| Internet suffix | .bj |
| Flow direction | Right-hand drive |
| Spindle | UTC 1 |
| Location | |
 8 ° 52 ′ 48 ″ N 2 ° 12 ′ 36 ″ E | |
| Official site | |
The Benign, or in long form: Republic of Benin, is a country ofWest Africa which is on the edge of theSouth Atlantic Ocean. It is bounded to the south by the Atlantic Ocean, to the east by the Nigeria, to the northeast by the Niger, to the north-west by the Burkina Faso and to the west by Togo.
Understand
Geography
The land of Benin is relatively uneven and fairly flat. The average altitude hardly exceeds 200 meters. To the north, the savanna dotted with semi-arid mountains dominates and to the south the predominantly swampy coastal plain.
There are five (05) natural regions:
A coastal strip, low and sandy, limited by lagoons;
A central, hilly and monotonous plain, which gradually rises 200 to 400 m from south to north around Nikki then descends to the Niger valley and the basin of Kandi ;
The Kandi basin in the northeast appears as a plain drained by the Sota river and its tributaries, which flow in very wide valleys;
The chainAtacora to the north-west, where the highest point of the country is located, Mount Aledjo (658m);
The vast Gourma plain in the far northwest, between Atacora and the border with Burkina Faso and Togo.
Vegetation
The vegetation of Benin mirrors the climate:
- South : a very degraded dense forest extends in the southern part of the country and is characterized by a gallery forest, a thick savannah, and mangroves in the coastal swamps. A huge palm grove borders the coast beyond the lagoon fringe of coconut palms
- North : the tree or shrub savannah in the central and northern Sudanese regions is home to a rich and diverse fauna.
Weather
Two distinct climatic zones:
- South zone : equatorial climate, high humidity, dry season from November to March and from mid-July to mid-September, rainy season from April to mid-July and from mid-September to October,
- North zone : tropical climate, dry season from November to May, rainy season from June to September.
- The climate is distinctly tropical in the south, with a large dry season from November to March, and a smaller one in July-August.
- A small The rainy season also sets in around September-October, with the heaviest rainfall occurring between April and June.
- North, the rainy season is from May to September; in the dry season temperatures reach 40 ° C and the harmattan blows dry, dust-laden air.
Traveling between December and March allows you to visit the Benign in the best possible conditions in the north and in the south.
- To discover southern Benin it is advisable to do it between November and March, during the great dry season, in particular in November-December, or from mid-July to mid-August or September, during the short dry season which interrupts the season. rainy season.
History
Benin, a small country in the Gulf of Guinea, is above all an immense cultural heritage with a rich and tumultuous history, prior to the colonial presence, with its varied traditions (about forty ethnic groups) and its cult of voodoo. During the colonial period and until 1990, Benin underwent several name changes. Indeed, before the colonial period around the XXe century, it was called the colony of Dahomey, and became independent Dahomey from 1960 to 1972. From 1972 to 1990, Benin was called the People's Republic of Benin and became the Republic of Benin 1990 to this day.
The important dates that marked the history Dahomey:
- 1650 : the English build a fort in Ouidah
- 1664 : first installation of missionaries in Judah (Ouidah), the Breton Capuchins,
- 1704 : France receives authorization to build a port in Ouidah
- 1752 : the Portuguese found Porto-Novo
- 1863 : the French establish their protectorate on Porto-Novo
- June 22, 1894 : the country becomes "the French Colony of Dahomey and its dependencies", by decree of the President of the French Republic, Marie-François Sadi-Carnot.
- July 23, 1864 : a Franco-German agreement determines the Dahomey - Togo border
- June 14, 1898 : a Franco-British agreement specifies the borders of Dahomey and Nigeria
- December 18, 1904: Dahomey is incorporated into AOF (French West Africa)
- December 4, 1958 : the Republic of Dahomey is proclaimed
- August 1, 1960 : Dahomey becomes an independent state. He is a member of the UN and many international organizations.
- October 26, 1972 : Great revolutionary movement of national liberation
- November 30, 1975 : Dahomey becomes the People's Republic of Benin
- February 28, 1990 : end of the Marxist Leninist period, creation of the Republic of Benin
Population
The inhabitants of Benign are called Beninese and are known for their hospitality. They were nicknamed "Sick Child of Africa" then "Latin Quarter of Africa" and "Laboratory of Democracy Africa" and always "Cradle of the willon" for several reasons:
Sick child from Africa due to a very strong institutional instability marked by incessant reversals of power,
Latin Quarter of Africa justified by the relative permanence of the political elite, mainly made up of the "evolved" who made the country famous throughout West Africa, characterized by a real intellectual and artistic life. At the time, it was the only country in Africa with the most students and intellectuals of pride in France even if the Senegal supplanted it thanks to Léopold Sédar Senghor, first black associate of grammar, poet of world renown, theorist of negritude, author of numerous works, etc ... who succeeded in making Dakar the African capital of culture.
Africa Democracy Laboratory because it is the only country in French-speaking West Africa to have made political transitions since independence, however very different, without bloodshed or violence since the organization of its historic national conference of living forces February 1990.
Cradle of the willon The traditional animist religion remains very present in the life of the Beninese. In southern Benin, it is practiced under the name of Vodoun, the cult of which is still very lively today in the Black communities transplanted by the slave trade in the Caribbean Islands and in Latin America. The priests of the Vodoun cult constitute a veritable well-hierarchical clergy. We must also mention the Bokonon diviners doubled as healers who use the FA or Oracle.
Holidays and public holidays
| Dated | Last name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2022 | New Year's Day | First day of the year from Gregorian calendar |
| January 10, 2022 | National Voodoo Day | Day dedicated to the celebration of endogenous religions |
| variable | Porto-Novo International Festival (fip) | Cultural event that takes place in the first half of January |
| January 16, 2022 | Failed aggression of Benin by mercenaries | Day of commemoration of the failed coup of 1977. |
| variable | Wémèxwé | identity celebration of the "Wémènous" called "Wémèxwé" |
| April 17, 2022 | Easter | Resurrection of Jesus ; |
| April 13, 2022 | Easter Monday | the day after 1er Sunday following the 1re spring full moon |
| May 1 | Labor Day | Commemorate the ratification of the 8 am working day; traditionally the day of many union and political demonstrations in France. (The name “Labor Day” was made official on April 29, 1948). |
| May 13, 2021 | Ascension Thursday | Christian holiday celebrating the ascension of Jesus to heaven |
| May 23, 2021 | Pentecost | Descent of theHoly Spirit on the Apostles ; 50 days after Easter (only Sunday has a particular religious significance). |
| May 31, 2021 | Nonvitcha | A cultural festival of peoples Xwla and Xweda the regions coastal areas of southern Benin, to celebrate unity and brotherhood. Its celebration often coincides with the Pentecost |
| June 1, 2021 | Whit Monday | Descent of theHoly Spirit on the Apostles ; 50 days after Easter |
| variable | Ramadan | Feast of breaking the fast; the 1st of the month of Chawwal |
| variable | Eid El Kabir or Tabaski | Sacrifice ofIshmael ; the 10th of the month of Dhou al-hijja |
| August 1, 2021 | National Holiday | Independence day |
| August 15, 2021 | Assumption | Catholic holiday celebrating the rise of the Virgin Mary to heaven |
| November 1, 2021 | The Toussaint | Known as the Feast of the Dead, it is a Catholic feast, which honors all Saints, known and unknown |
| August 15, 2021 | The Yam Festival | A cultural and religious celebration |
| variable | National Marian pilgrimage Dassa-Zoumé | It is a religious holiday that brings together thousands of fulfilled Catholics at the foot of the Notre-Dame d'Arigbo cave. It is celebrated every year from the second half of August. |
| variable | Gléxwé-Xwé | Identity celebration of Ouidah |
| variable | Carnival Kaleta and arts festival Agoudas at Ouidah | from November 28 to 29 |
| December 25, 2021 | Christmas | Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth |
- The table above does not list all the cultural and national identity festivals in Benin. Certain departments, communes, districts or ethnic groups and territories also have their cultural and identity festivals celebrated periodically.
Regions
 Benin map |
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Cities
- 1 Abomey –
historic capital of the kingdom of Dahomey. - 2 Cotonou – The economic capital housing the seats of government and major institutions.
- 3 Grand-Popo
- 4 Natitingou
- 5 Ouidah
- 6 Parakou
- 7 Porto-Novo – administrative capital
Other destinations
- See as well: World Heritage in Benin, Intangible cultural heritage in Benin, Biosphere reserves in Benin
To go
Formalities
- Benign
- Exemption from Visa
By plane
The air route is the main entry route for foreigners, except the land route for neighboring countries. The only airport currently in service is the Bernardin Gantin international airport in Cotonou. A second larger airport is planned at another site, but the project is not really moving forward. Most French-speaking European companies serve Benin (Air France, Brussels Airlines, etc.), as do almost all of the companies. regional (Air Senegal, Air Côte d'Ivoire, Air Burkina, etc.) and regional (Royal Air Maroc, Air Mauritanie, etc.).
Some indicative times
- Air France: Paris - Cotonou: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday (Departure: 13 h 45 / Arrival: 20 h).
- Brussels Airlines: Brussels - Cotonou: Tuesday, Saturday (Departure: 14 h 05 / Arrival: 20 h 35).
Circulate
The easiest way to get around the big cities, especially in Cotonou, is to use taxi-motorcycles, commonly called "zémidjans" (or "kèkènon", in the local dialect), abbreviated "zém". They are practical, easily recognizable thanks to their yellow shirts, and can be found almost everywhere. Be careful though, sometimes you have to have your heart set on, wear your helmet and not be too offended by some more or less daring traffic violations! Prices often vary between 100 and 500 XOF, depending on the distance traveled and the accessibility of the destination. Interurban transport is the prerogative of bush taxis. Very attractive prices, but be careful to negotiate well!
To travel in Benin by car, bus or taxi, the hands are substituted for the indicators when the driver is about to change direction even if this way has nothing to do with the highway code has, however, become a standard, a habit and even a culture. it is necessary to make the hand despite the flashing
By car
They are recognizable by their yellow and green color and do not have a counter. Pricing is negotiated before getting into the vehicle. As in many African countries, the price for a European is far beyond the price for an African. Don't hesitate to haggle.
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There are private mini-buses, named Tokpa-tokpa. The affordable and unique price regardless of the journey makes it the means of mass transport of the local population. However, you have to be prepared to get crowded and have to get off at each stop to let other people get on or off. On the other hand, take them only following the advice of a local friend who knows the routes. Indeed, no infrastructure or plan exists and each Tokpa-Tokpa makes its own journey. We know which Tokpa-Tokpa to take thanks to the town crier who is the attendant at the door and at the payment and who shouts at each opening of the door, the final destination. It is according to this destination that you know if the Tokpa-Tokpa passes by the place where you want to go. Sometimes it takes 2 or 3 Tokpa-Tokpa to reach its destination. The stops are generally the crossings or the places (it is often the rat race to have its place) but it is quite possible to ask that the Tokpa-Tokpa stop at a precise point (s' he is on the way). The Tokpa-Tokpa is really worth trying at least once. It must be recognized that a European who takes a Tokpa-Tokpa is a rather rare thing and you will be looked at with astonishment but, the Beninese being a very welcoming people, everything will go very well. own car or with that of a rental agency. Foreign driving licenses are not a problem for a short stay, but for safety reasons it is prudent to avoid overnight interurban travel, and even traffic in the middle of town in sensitive or low-traffic areas, in particular. because of the risk of night attack by the "coupeurs de route" the local bandits. It is necessary to avoid venturing on unpaved secondary roads, or tracks, especially during the rainy season from July to September, due to the risk of getting bogged down, broken bridges and roads submerged by overflowing rivers. The road in Benin is particularly dangerous, because of the driving style, the poor quality of vehicles and the road (potholes). You must therefore be particularly vigilant when driving, especially when crossing villages. In the event of an accident, do not stop, but go to the nearest police or gendarmerie station to inform them of the accident.
By taxi
There are several taxi companies you can call, including the national company Benin Taxi which offers fast and quality service in the south since the year 2017.
By bus
You can call on tour operators or specialized agencies, especially in Cotonou, which often offer a quality service with optional guides and drivers.
There are several public transport companies including company buses Benafrik who make round trips on the main roads of Cotonou, to neighboring towns. Other public transport companies like The post office, Ayina transport and tourism, Comfort Lines etc ... are specialized in long distance transport to towns more or less distant from Cotonou.
There are also private mini-buses, named Tokpa-tokpa (Tokpa which is the abbreviation of the largest market in Benin: Dantokpa). All tokpa-tokpa leave different cities in the south of the country destined for the international market Dantokpa. Prices are affordable and vary depending on the city of your departure. The price is unique regardless of your position in each city traveled by the tokpa-tokpa. Note that tokpa-tokpa only circulate on major roads in southern cities. It is a means of mass transport of the local population. It is to be taken and guarantees a total change of scenery. However, you have to be prepared to get crowded and have to get off at each stop to let other people get on or off. However, only take them on the advice of a local friend who knows the routes. Indeed, no infrastructure or plan exists and each tokpa-tokpa makes its own journey. We know what tokpa-tokpa take thanks to the town crier who assists the driver and this only when the Tokpa-tokpa leave the market Dantokpa or the city of Cotonou . Indeed, the attendant at the door and at the payment repeats, shouting each time the door is opened, the final destination. It is based on this destination that you know if the tokpa-tokpa goes through where you want to go. Sometimes you have to take 2 or 3 tokpa-tokpa to reach its destination. The stops are generally the crossings or the places (it is often the rat race to have its place) but it is quite possible to ask that the tokpa-tokpa stops at a specific point (if it is on the route). The tokpa-tokpa is really worth trying at least once. It must be recognized that a European who takes a tokpa-tokpa is a rather rare thing and you will be looked at with astonishment, but the Beninese are a very welcoming people, everything will be fine.
By train
There is a railway line built during the time of French colonization, which was to link Cotonou to Niamey in Niger. It stopped at Parakou. Passenger trains have not served Parakou for a long time. The line's renovation projects are still in the works, and only a few freight trains would still circulate between the port of Cotonou and the station of Parakou So don't plan on boarding the train in Parakou!
On a boat
To get to the lakeside city of Ganvié, the pier is located Abomey-Calavi.
Speak
The official language in Benin which is French is spoken by about 35% of Beninese. But, the most widely used language, by about 45% of the population, is fon, especially at Cotonou and in the Southern Benin.
There are many other national languages and regional dialects of which the most important are, besides Fon, Yoruba, spoken in the south-east of the country on the border with the Nigeria, Peul, spoken by nomadic shepherds who roam the country with their herds of oxen, goats and sheep, bariba, spoken in the Borgou department around Parakou, and many other local languages including those of the mountain people of Atakora, etc. Moreover, there are expressions in Popular Beninese French that you should know to travel to Benin.
List of some words and expressions in fon (fɔ̀ngbè) to start conversations
| standard french | fɔ̀ngbè |
|---|---|
| Basic expressions / Common words | |
| Hello good night | At the end of! / Kú d´é wú |
| How are you ? | A ɖo ɖagbe at? |
| Very well thank you and you ? | Lanmɛ this ɖò ganjí, awanou? |
| Do you speak French / English ?? | A se flansegbe / glensigbe wɛ to ?? |
| I understand / I don't understand | un mɔ nu jɛ mɛ / un mɔ nu jɛ mɛ ă |
| sorry | Gbɔ is at! |
| Goodbye | Bo yi bo wá |
| welcome | Doo nú wè |
| Thank you so much) | A wà nŭ (kaka) |
| Excuse me / please | Mi kɛnklɛɛn |
| My name is ___ | A nɔ nyi ___ |
| No thanks | eho |
| Yes No | een / eho |
| Yes No | een / eho |
| You're welcome | E su kpε ă |
| Some common expressions used in commerce | |
| How much is it ? | Bì nyí nabí? |
| It’s very cheap | E nyɔ, e v’axi ă |
| It's too expensive ! | E v'áxi dín |
| Can you lower the price? | Sà nú mì ganjí |
| I would like to buy… this, this one! | Un jlo na xɔ nu |
| I love / I hate | A sɛn we |
| Silver | kwɛ́ |
| Some common expressions used in travel | |
| Plane | jomɛhun |
| Boat | tɔjihún |
| Train | pipan |
| Taxi | Taxi |
| Motorbike | zokɛkɛ́ |
| Car | meto |
| Bike | kɛkɛ́ |
| Common words or expressions to indicate directions | |
| Where is ___ ? / How to go to ___ ? | Fítɛ́ é ___? |
| Bank | bàzán |
| Station | lagáà |
| Hospital | dotóxwé |
| Is it near / far? | E lin at? |
| Straight ahead | TV |
| Left right | àmyɔ̀ / ɖìsí |
| North South East West | totaligbé / xuligbó / zănzànhwéjí / gbadahwejí |
| Common words for numbers | |
| one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and ten | ôdé, ôwé, aton, ênê, atoon, aïzen, ten-wé, tan-ton, ten-’nê, wô |
| twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty | kô, gban, kan-dé, kan-de-wo, kàng-de-ko |
| seventy, eighty, ninety | kàng-de-gbàng, kàng-wè, kàng-wè-wo |
| hundred | kàng-wè-kò |
| Common words or phrases about times, dates and days | |
| What time is it ? | Gan nabi wɛ? |
| When? | Hwetɛnu? |
| Yesterday | sɔ̀ |
| Today (morning / noon / evening) | egbe |
| Tomorrow | sɔ̀ |
| Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday | Tenigbé, Guzangbé, Azangagbé, Nyonuzangbé, Axosuzan, Vodungbé |
| I'm here on vacation / traveling | Un ɖò gbɔjɛ́ mɛ̀ / Un xwe tomɛ̀ |
| Common words or expressions during a discussion when you are at the table | |
| I'm hungry, I'm thirsty | xovε sin mi / kɔ xu mi |
| Enjoy your meal | Bo ɖu nǔ ganji |
| Health! | Sin n’í yí kɔ̀! |
| That was delicious ! | É víví ɖo gbɛmɛ̀ |
| It's too hot ! | E ɖo zozo ji |
| Peanut | aziín |
| Water | sin |
| Tea / coffee | tii / coffee |
| Beer / wine | bia / vɛɛn |
| The check please | A jlo na su |
| Common words or phrases for health or safety | |
| Call a doctor / ambulance | Ylɔ̆ dotó wá |
| I do not feel very good | Lanmɛ ce yá ă |
| I hurt here | E vɛ́ |
| Where are the toilets ? | fitɛ wulɛkpa lɛ ɖe? |
| Help ! | Mi gɔ alɔ nu mi |
| Police | polísì |
| Danger | nukúnmyá |
Buy
Change
Countries using the CFA franc: 
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The official currency of the countries forming the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) is the CFA franc. The issuing institution is the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO).
The CFA franc is written for short in FCFA or F CFA, and its ISO code is XOF. The CFA franc exchange rate was 1 XOF = 0,01 FRF which gives a fixed parity with the euro of 1 € = 655,957 XOF but banks and exchange bureaus may charge a commission on the transaction.
On each coin and on the front of the banknotes is the BCEAO logo, a stylized sawfish. This represents a bronze figurine formerly used by the Akan to weigh gold.
The member countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community use another CFA franc whose code is XAF.
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Markets
Almost everything can be bought in Cotonou, mainly at the market of Dantokpa, the second largest market in West Africa. Of course, it is customary to negotiate firmly when making a purchase!
Many dishes are based on rice, vegetables, corn flour, yam, cassava or pasta. Meat (mutton, pork, game) is often served mixed with a seasoned and relatively spicy sauce. In the fishing villages, one finds mainly dried fish (the smell is strong, but the taste is less).
Tropical fruits are delicious, and inexpensive depending on the season.
Eat
There are more and more "Western-style" restaurants in Benin, mainly in Cotonou. The local custom, however, is to eat in "maquis", mid-range restaurants. They mainly offer fish and rice at a very reasonable price (about 2 to 5 € per meal).
Basic dishes
The Beninese cuisine is mainly made from corn paste in the south of the country and yam in the north. The tasting of some traditional dishes from Benin is an excellent way to make the first encounters with the Beninese culture and can leave you with unforgettable memories.
- Mantindjan: Originating from the southern part of Benin, this sauce is a real mixture of pre-cooked hoe and multiple meats and cow cheese so that you will no longer find space on the plate. It is eaten with either pasta or akassa or sometimes even white rice, it is also delicious.
- Le BlocOtto: It is prepared with beef trotters, it is a sauce that also helps you eat the different pastas from Benin. Like Mantindjan, it is eaten with either the paste or theakassa or sometimes even white rice is also very interesting.
- Rice with potato fries: it is a mixture of seasoned rice and some French fries accompanied either by a piece of chicken meat or sea fish. It is in great demand in the market of the Beninese cuisine.
- Leaf and apple salad: it's a combination of green salad and apple fries. It is also served with chopped carrot and spaghetti. We add bread as an accompaniment.
- Monyo: it is a mixture, hot or not, of tomato, pepper and meat or fish to accompany the various pastas in Benin. It is best if you are not used to eating raw foods to order it cooked and well prepared to a boil to avoid illnesses like typhoid fever.
- Amiwo's dish: Still called djèwo in the language fon Salted dough Amiwo is a dish of corn dough already seasoned with sauce to be eaten as such. This authentic Beninese cuisine is one of the most admired dishes in almost every region of the country. This dish is often accompanied by poultry meat like chicken meat, guinea fowl or turkey meat, fried fish, mutton or even beef.
- Ablo or rice cake: One Beninese cuisine made from rice flour. Rice can be shaped in various ways. You can cook rice dough, rice in tomato sauce or even rice with legumes (pre-cooked holly)
- Babo mainly in the south of Benin but also in some restaurants or at street vendors in some cities of deep Benin such as Parakou, Natitingou, Boukombe and even Tanguieta. Fried fish and Beninese cuisine
- It must be accompanied by fried fish and seasoned with frying if we want to keep its authenticity. Hmmmmm what a delight ??? I'm salivating while writing this article ...
- The watché dish: The watché is a mixture of rice and beans seasoned with fried tomato or fried chili in northern Benin. It can be accompanied by Fulani cheese, meat or fried fish.
- watché is a dish that is eaten in the morning or at noon because it is quite energetic and takes a little time to digest. But it is not uncommon to see people consuming it at night.
- Wassawassa which is a Beninese cuisine from northern Benin made with yam or cassava and seasoned with frying. Most often in the Bassila region it is accompanied with cheese or animal skin called (kpaman in language fungbe but in other areas such as Natitingou or Parakou town, it will be soy cheese, animal skin or fried fish.
- The gbo pkètè is a dish of Beninese cuisine of zou in the southern region of Benin is obtained by collecting the blood of the sheep and transforming it into a soup that will be used to accompany akassa balls or gari paste.
- Toubani: Prepared in northern Benin, toubani is made from bean flour or cassava flour. It is quite appetizing and lighter when made with bean flour. It is a main course that should be consumed warm and especially in the morning when you know that you need energy for your various activities of the day. It is served with dry chili and oil. This is how he keeps his authenticity that we recognize in him. It is sold by box and costs between 100 CFA francs per box and sometimes 200 CFA francs for large boxes.
The accompaniments
The accompaniments of dishes in Benin are in most cases starchy or cereals base of Beninese cuisine. Its compositions and colors vary from region to region.
We can cite: The dough in the form of mash made from flour (corn, cassava, yam, semolina, wheat, millet) and accompanied by different varieties of spicy sauce with different taste depending on the ingredients (based on local spinach, okra, tomato, sesame, cashew nuts.)
Dessert
In Beninese culture, dessert is served after a meal unlike modern Western culture where it is served at the start of the meal. It generally consists of sweet foods including: Juices made in Benin such as baobab juice made from fruits of the baobab tree and Bissap juice made with bissap leaves Pineapple fritters and donuts named Yovo doko can also serve as a desert.
To taste
Snacks in Benin as elsewhere are very important and are usually taken in the afternoon around 4 pm when you can eat any kind of meal.
At 25 FCFA per piece, or 4 euro cents, that is to say 8 pieces / person is generally sufficient for a correct snack in Benin.
Here are some foods that can be taken in Benin as a snack.
- Tévi = fried sliced yams accompanied by chili
- Ata = white bean fritter
- Ata kpo Tévi (Ata Tévi)
- Aloko = fried plantains (also a side dish in some dishes)
- Talé Talé = donuts made from ripe bananas and flour
- Yovo doko (donut made from wheat flour) is a sweet snack. It is eaten alone or with porridge.
Have a drink / go out
Lots of bars and nightclubs in Cotonou, less in the rest of the country.
The local alcohol is called Sodabi. It is inexpensive palm alcohol. Many villages distill their own alcohol. La qualité du Sodabi est donc très variable suivant l'endroit de l'achat. On peut boire également de la bière de mil. C'est une bière fermentée, qui chauffe de longues heures et qui se boit tiède. Là aussi, la qualité est très variable.
Housing
Au Bénin les habitations correcte coûtent pour un appartement de type Chambre a couché - salon - cuisine Douche environ 35 a 60 milles Xof soit environ 53 - 100 € Dans les grandes villes du pays . Mais pour des appartements de types villa elle coûte généralement entre 150 800 mille Xof suivant la zone soit environ 230 - 1250 €. Tous les montants précité sont mensuel.Datation faites en octobre 2020
Learn
Cotonou abrite plusieurs lycées Coulibaly, des collèges privés, et des lycées publics tels le lycée National. Elle accueille également plusieurs établissements de renom comme les collèges Notre-Dame ou Saint-Joseph, etc.
To work
De manière générale, le Bénin est un bon endroit où travailler. Les étrangers désirant travailler au Bénin doivent obtenir un permis de travail à moins d'avoir la nationalité même si la remarque générale est que l’État n'en tient pas trop rigueur. Beaucoup d’étrangers y vivent, travaillent et sont concentrés dans la banlieue de Cotonou, Port-Novo et de ses environs mais aussi à l’intérieur du pays.
Conformément au décret de 2014 en application à l'article 210 du Code du Travail, le salaire minimum interprofessionnel garanti (SMIG) au Bénin est de 40 000 XOF et peut être révisé tous les 3 ans ou en cas de besoin. Aucun travailleur ne peut être payé moins que le SMIG au risque de faire l’objet de poursuites judiciaires.
Faites très attention à la fiscalité béninoise qui privilégie les rentiers aux travailleurs.
L’avantage pour travailler au Bénin est de comprendre la langue française.
Selon une étude de la Commission Economique pour l’Afrique (CEA) intitulée “profil pays 2018”,72% de la population active est sous-employée. Le taux de chômage quant à lui est de 2,4%.
Dans l'administration publique béninoise les horaires de travail sont du lundi au vendredi de 8h à 12 h 30 pour une pose et de 15 heures à 18h30.
Les commerces et certaines entreprises privées restent ouverts au-delà de 20 h, mais ferment généralement plus tôt les samedis.
Les entreprises du secteur privé informel contribuent fortement à l’activité économique au Bénin avec 89,0% des actifs occupés
Les entreprises du secteur du secteur privé formel (5,5%)
Les entreprises du secteur public (administration publique et entreprises publiques et para-publiques) avec 4,0% des actifs occupés.
Que vous soyez à la recherche d’emploi ou que vous voulez en créer, en dehors de ce que la Caisse nationale de sécurité sociale du Bénin (CNSS) qui est l'organisme auquel le gouvernement du Bénin a confié l'administration du régime de santé et de sécurité du travail, il est recommandé de s’informer sur les dispositifs en vigueur pour la promotion de l’emploi au Bénin dont nous pouvons trouver une liste non exhaustive ici. il s'agit de:
- Agence Nationale Pour l’Emploi (ANPE)
- Fonds National de Promotion de l’Entreprise et de l’Emploi des Jeunes (FNPEEJ)
- Fonds National de la Microfinance (FNM)
- Observatoire de l’Emploi et de la Formation (OEF)
- Agence Nationale des PME (ANPME)
- Office Béninois de Services de Volontariat des Jeunes (OBSVJ)
- Fonds de Développement de la Formation Professionnelle Continue et de l’Apprentissage (FODEFCA
- Centre de Promotion et d’Encadrement des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises (CePEPE)
- Business Promotion Center (BPC)
- Projet Emploi des Jeunes (PEJ)
- Programme de Diversification Agricole par la Valorisation des Vallées (PDAVV)
- Cibles
- Projet de Compétitivité et de Croissance Intégrée (PCCI)
- Projet SONGHAI
- GUFE/APIEX
security
 | Emergency telephone number: Police :166 Ambulance:112 Firefighter :118 |
Les Béninois n'aiment pas les voleurs et vous aideront volontiers si vous criez. Cependant, cela peut-être dangereux pour le malfaiteur, à cause de "la justice du peuple". En journée, il n'y a que peu de risque concernant la sécurité, mis à part les coupeurs de route. Néanmoins, sur certains lieux touristiques, certaines bandes de quartier se montrent menaçantes pour tenter de faire payer un droit de passage aux voyageurs. Le ton peut alors facilement monter.
Government travel advice
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Belgium (Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) 
Canada (Government of Canada) 
France (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 
Swiss (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)
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Health
Le vaccin contre la fièvre jaune est obligatoire. Le carnet de vaccination est demandé à la douane à l'entrée du pays.
The paludisme est très présent au Bénin surtout pendant la saison des pluies. Il est nécessaire de se protéger (moustiquaire, produits répulsifs) dès la tombée du jour et la nuit, et de prendre un traitement anti-paludéen préventif à se faire prescrire par un médecin. Sur la côte cependant (Grand-Popo), une brise quasi-permanente fait fuir les moustiques.
Respect
Le Bénin est le berceau du Vaudou. Les "objets" sacrés sont variés suivant les lieux (arbres, poissons, forêt, ...).
Il est important de demander une autorisation avant de pénétrer dans un lieu de culte.
Au Bénin, regarder quelqu'un de plus vieux ou de plus respectable dans les yeux est un signe d'affront. Vous verrez donc souvent les enfants vous parler les yeux baissés vers le sol. Vouvoyer ses parents, ses aînés est aussi de rigueur.
Si l'on vous invite à prendre un verre, n'oubliez pas de verser un peu de son contenu sur le sol, pour honorer les ancêtres (qui sont souvent enterrés sous la maison.)
Dans les habitudes du pays, la main droite est la main utilisée pour manger, boire, saluer, etc. l’utilisation de la main gauche pour donner ou recevoir des biens est perçue comme un manque respect, de considération
Mais les Béninois sont très accueillants et ne s'offusqueront que rarement des maladresses des touristes. Prendre les gens en photos n'est cependant pas accepté partout.
Par ailleurs, il y a des superstitions ou certaines histoires qu’il faut apprendre à connaitre et à respecter au Bénin:La culture béninoise interdit de faire certaines choses la nuit : notamment se doucher, faire la lessive, balayer, siffler, tracer sur le sol, prononcer le mot « serpent » , passer près d’un cimetière, à la femme enceinte sortir pas la nuit. De même la mante religieuse ne se pose pas sur le ventre d’une femme enceinte ou avaler les pépins d’orange ou d’autres fruits, tuer le crapaud, dire des mensonges ou voler en pleine pluie sont entre autres quelques interdits on exhaustifs.
Communicate
Téléphone
Le code national du Bénin est le 229. Les numéros ont été modifiés en passant de 6 à 8 chiffres depuis 2005. Les cabines téléphoniques sont presque inexistantes.
Comment utiliser l'indicatif téléphonique pour appeler au Bénin?
Composez le 00 229 ... suivi du numéro de votre correspondant (compris entre 8 et 0 chiffres). Le préfixe téléphonique qui correspond au pays Bénin est : <<<< le 229 ou le 00229 ou encore le 229 >>>>
Exemple1:: Pour placer le préfixe 229 dans un nombre du téléphone portable béninois, par exemple le numéro 0628719XX, au début il faut supprimer le premier « 0 » du numéro du destinataire, et a sa place mettre « 00 » ou aussi « », suivi par l’indicatif du Bénin 229. Le résultat final pour appeler à ce destinataire qui réside au Bénin sera: 00229628719XX ou bien 229628719XX.
Exemple2: pour appeler l'ambassade de France au Bénin,composez le 00 229 21 300 225
Téléphonie mobile
L'essentiel des villes est couvert par deux opérateurs, MTN Bénin et Moov Bénin. Les trois autres (Globacom, BBCom et Libercom) ont dû laisser le marché de téléphonie mobile béninois.
