Benin Republic National Anthem

The national anthem of the Republic of Benin is called New Dawn. Here are words of the New Dawn:

Refrain

Children of Benin, stand up!
The freedom of a sonorous
cry Sings at the first fires of dawn;
Children of Benin, stand up!

1st verse:

Once, at his call, our unflinching
ancestors knew with courage, ardour, and joy
to fight brilliant battles at the cost of blood.
Hurry too, builders of the present,Stronger in unity, every day at work,For posterity’s sake,

build unceasingly!

2nd verse:

When everywhere a wind of anger and hatred blows,Beninese, be proud, and with a serene soul,Confident in the future,

look at your flag!
In the green you will read the hope of renewal,From
your forefathers the red evokes courage;
Of the richest treasures, yellow is the omen.

3rd verse:

Your sunny mountains, your palm trees, your greenery, dear Benin,
everywhere make your lively adornment.
Your soil offers everyone the richness of fruit.
Benin, from now on, may your children, all united
, share the hope
of seeing you forever happy in abundance.


The national anthem of the Republic of Benin is New Dawn. It was written and composed by Abbé Gilbert Jean Dagnon, and adopted at the independence of the Republic of Dahomey in 1960.

After Dahomey became the People’s Republic of Benin in 1975, the national anthem was retained, but the words “Dahomey” and “Dahomean” were replaced by the words “Benin” and “Beninese” respectively.


The Republic of Benin is a country in West Africa.

Capital: Porto-Novo
Continent: Africa
Currency: West African CFA franc
Official language: French
Population: 13 million (2021) World Bank
Area: 112,620 sq km
Dialing code: +229

Port Novo
Cotonou

Benin is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north-west, and Niger to the north-east.

Flag of Benin
Emblem of Benin
Palais Des Congres in Cotonou

It is home to the former Dahomey Kingdom from circa 1600–1900.

Majority of its population lives on the southern coastline of the Bight of Benin, part of the Gulf of Guinea in the northernmost tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean.

Cotton field in northern Benin

The capital is Porto-Novo. The seat of government is in Cotonou, the most populous city and economic capital.

Land area

Benin has a land area of 114,763 square kilometres (44,310 sq mi) and its population in 2021 was estimated to be 13 million.

Economy

It is one of the least developed, with an economy significantly dependent on agriculture. It is an exporter of palm oil and cotton.

Tourism

Pendjari National Park offers safaris with elephants, hippos and lions.

Departmets (states)

Benin is divided into twelve states, known as departments (French: départements) which are subdivided into 77 communes. In 1999, the previous six departments were each split into 2 halves, forming the later twelve.

The 12 departments (states) of Benin Republic are:

  1. Alibori
  2. Atakora
  3. Atlantique
  4. Borgou
  5. Collines
  6. Kouffo
  7. Donga
  8. Littoral
  9. Mono
  10. Ouémé
  11. Plateau
  12. Zou
Map of Benin Republic showing the country’s 12 states (departments)

People

The majority of Benin’s 11,485,000 inhabitants live in the south of the country.

About 42 African ethnic groups live in this country, including the Yoruba in the southeast (migrated from Nigeria in the 12th century); the Dendi in the north-central area (who came from Mali in the 16th century); the Bariba and the Fula in the northeast; the Betammaribe and the Somba in the Atakora Mountains; the Fon in the area around Abomey in the South Central and the Mina, Xueda, and Aja (who came from Togo) on the coast.

Migrations have brought other African nationals to Benin that include Nigerians, Togolese, and Malians.

The foreign community includes Lebanese and Indians involved in trade and commerce.

Religion

A year 2020 estimate puts the percentage of Christians population in Benin at 52.2%, Muslim 24.6%, Animist 17.9 and followers of other faiths or those with no religion at 5.3%.

A Celestial Church of Christ baptism in Cotonou

Traditional religions include local animistic religions in the Atakora (Atakora and Donga provinces), and Vodun and Orisha veneration among the Yoruba and Tado peoples in the center and south of the nation.

The town of Ouidah on the central coast is the spiritual center of Beninese Vodun.

Foods

Benin cuisine involves fresh meals served with a variety of key sauces.

In southern Benin cuisine, an ingredient is corn which has been used to prepare dough which has been served with peanut- or tomato-based sauces.

Fish and chicken, beef, goat, and bush rat are consumed.

A staple in northern Benin is yams which has been served with sauces mentioned above.

The population in the northern provinces use beef and pork meat which is fried in palm or peanut oil or cooked in sauces.

Cheese is used in some dishes. Couscous, rice, and beans are eaten, along with fruits such as mangoes, oranges, avocados, bananas, kiwi fruit, and pineapples.

Meals are said to be generally light on meat and generous on vegetable fat.

Frying in palm or peanut oil is a meat preparation, and smoked fish is prepared.

Grinders are used to prepare corn flour, which is made into a dough and served with sauces.