Benin
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...
Youth and Politics in Benin: A Generation Reshaping the Nation’s Future
In the crowded streets of Cotonou, the sound of motorbike engines blends with the steady murmur of political debate. Across university courtyards, internet cafés, and the ever-busy corridors of social media, a new...
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 tomatoes. Across Benin, food is more than sustenance—it is a narrative written in spice, texture, and shared ritual. At the core of this West African nation’s cuisine are humble staples: maize, yams, and cassava. Their preparation, however, elevates them beyond the ordinary. Pâte—a dense, smooth dough made from corn or millet flour—often anchors the plate. On its own, it is mild, but when paired with sauces such as tomato-based sauce tomate or the creamy, slow-simmered sauce d’arachide...
Akassa: Benin’s Humble Staple with Centuries of Flavor and Tradition
By Jonas Loubin In the bustling markets of Cotonou, the air is thick with the scent of simmering sauces, grilled fish, and freshly milled corn....
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 tomatoes....
Akassa: Benin’s Humble Staple with Centuries of Flavor and Tradition
By Jonas Loubin In the bustling markets of Cotonou, the air is thick with the scent of simmering sauces, grilled fish, and freshly milled corn. Amid the clamor of vendors and the hum of conversation, one dish is as omnipresent as the red dust that settles on the streets: Akassa. Known in some regions as Aklui, this slightly fermented corn...
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...
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...
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...
Youth and Politics in Benin: A Generation Reshaping the Nation’s Future
In the crowded streets of Cotonou, the sound of motorbike engines blends with the steady murmur of political debate....
