Benin

The Rich Flavors of Benin: A Culinary Journey Through Tradition

By JONAS LOUBIN In the humid air of Cotonou’s open markets, the scent of grilled meat mingles with the earthy aroma of maize porridge. Stalls overflow with yams, cassava roots, and baskets of ripe...

Benin is building a theme park to remember slavery – is history up for sale?

Dominique Somda, University of Cape Town - The Marina Project is a vast memorial and tourist complex under construction in Ouidah, a coastal town in the Republic of Benin in West Africa. The...

Benin’s Measured Ascent: How a West African Nation Is Building Its Economic Future

By Robert Stales In the narrow, bustling streets of Cotonou, container trucks rumble toward the port while roadside vendors balance baskets of fresh produce on their heads. Farther inland, fields of cotton stretch to the horizon, their white bolls shimmering in the dry-season sun. This is Benin—small in size, rich in heritage, and steadily repositioning itself in the West African economic landscape. The country’s economic evolution has been incremental rather than meteoric. It is the product of targeted reforms, agricultural expansion, infrastructure investment, and a cautious embrace of digital innovation. Together, these measures have begun to attract the attention of both regional partners and overseas investors. Agriculture remains Benin’s economic foundation. Cotton,...

Benin is building a theme park to remember slavery – is history up for sale?

Dominique Somda, University of Cape Town - The Marina Project is a vast memorial and tourist complex under construction in Ouidah, a coastal town...

From Voodoo to Vibrant Markets: Benin’s Cultural and Economic Renaissance

In southern Benin, where the humid air carries the scent of woodsmoke and the murmur of market traders, the country’s past and present converge. Here, centuries-old spiritual traditions exist alongside a rapidly changing economic...

From Drums to Dance: The Beating Heart of Benin’s Festivals

Benin, a West African nation with centuries of layered history, holds its traditions close. Here, cultural festivals are not simply seasonal spectacles; they are living connections to ancestral heritage, woven from strands of spirituality, artistry, and community pride. In cities and villages alike, the calendar is punctuated by celebrations that blend ritual, performance, and collective memory. Among the most widely...

The Port of Cotonou – Benin’s Gateway to Economic Power in West Africa

The Port of Cotonou — The Gateway To Economic Power For Benin In West Africa In terms of economics, realizing what the Port of Cotonou means can make you see West Africa’s commercial territory in another...

Benin and the ECOWAS Crisis – Navigating Regional Challenges and Security Threats

Why is Benin Important In ECOWAS? In the context of multiple threats to regional stability, it is imperative to explore the...

Benin and the ECOWAS Crisis – Navigating Regional Challenges and Security Threats

Why is Benin Important In ECOWAS? In the context of multiple threats to regional stability, it is imperative to explore the...

China, France, or the USA? Benin’s Strategic Balancing Act in Global Politics

One will learn how Benin balances its foreign relations in between coercive and persuasive forces of China, France, and the...