Benin Traditions

Benin is a small country on the west coast of Africa. In pre-colonial times, Benin was home to one of the great medieval African kingdoms called Dahomey. Even after independence from French rule, Benin still has strong French influence, French being the population’s official language. This small country is a tropical and sub-saharan nation and is home to many unique cultural traditions. Despite all of the struggles of the past and current challenges facing Benin, the small country is thriving with its uniquely rich culture.

In Benin independence day is an important celebration:

Independence Day is a national holiday in Benin. Celebrations on this day take place on grand scale throughout the country. National leaders deliver speeches reflecting

on past and present glories, the national flag is hoisted, the national anthem sung in government offices, schools, colleges, and other public institutions. (Maps of World)
Benin’s freedom of colonial rule was a drawn out process, just like many other countries. In The early eighteen hundreds, the French set up a trading post in Dahomey, the beginning of its colonization. Then, in eighteen ninety-two, Dahomey became a French protectorate. In the early nineteen-hundreds, Dahomey was absorbed into French West Africa, where in nineteen forty-eight, it was granted two senators in the French Parliament and elected territorial assembly with some control over the budget by the French constitution. As a result of this, in nineteen fifty-eight, Dahomey became a self governing entity and gained complete independence from French rule on August first, nineteen sixty along with seventeen other states. Dahomey was renamed Benin in nineteen seventy-five because the name was neutral and inclusive of the country’s various ethnic groups and also reflected the Marxist-Leninist ideology of its new government. Although the fight for freedom was quite a process, Benin is now a proud, independent country.
Benin Has been an attraction for European powers since the Seventeenth Century Due to its rich culture. Parts of Benin’s culture and the skills that captured the Europeans’ eyes, include: “The remarkable metal-working ability on Benin sculptors. Copper birds capped towers in the capital, copper snakes twined above gateways, and beautifully cast bronze statues could be found throughout the kingdom” (Bartlett 125). Even now Benin’s culture is magnificently rich and unique. Music is considered to be one of the most important parts of Benin’s culture, as it is not only a way to celebrate, but a way to express the people's’ passion for religion. Drumming can be heard all throughout the country at most religious events and festivals. Voodoo is another piece of Benin’s culture that makes it especially unique. Voodoo religions have a strong influence on Benin and its people. The voodoo religion tells of, “healing and rejuvenating talismans” (The Republic of Benin...). Oral storytelling is a big part of this religion and is the reason for the absence of Beninese written literature, despite the country's pride in its ancient stories and folklore. Benin’s cultural gatherings are feasts to the eyes because each cultural group within Benin has its own unique, but recognisable attires that have different patterns and colors for different occasions. Song and dances are also a huge part of this country’s unique culture and are a part of its social fabric. Song and dance can be seen and heard almost everywhere in Benin and are the main part to celebrating joyous events: Festivals, rites of passage, childbirth, or sorrowful occasions such as mourning death. Benin’s culture remains as diverse and rich as its landscape. With all of its strong religious roots to inform most of the its traditions, Benin is said to have one of the most unique and interesting cultures in all of Africa.
French colonization left a lasting impact on Benin’s development as a country, its French styles democratic government being one of them.

Currently, Benin has a democratic government with an elected legislative body and president, which both serve five-year terms. The slavery that came from colonization also has had a harsh negative effect on Benin’s development. After slave trade was abolished, there were few resources left prepared for Benin to trade within the global economy.So, the country shifted to relying upon its agriculture. The end of slave trade in the Nineteenth Century left Benin with many scars, along with the other African states; most of them were battered and most Africans were left with their traditional ways of life completely disrupted due to living in fear for so long. European attitude towards Africans changed as well, having forgotten that Africans were humans too. Benin’s social caste system also has its roots in the precolonial kingdoms. Although the power of traditional rulers was broken by colonization, the social status of Benin is still partially determined by a person’s family roots along with wealth. Despite all of the harsh negative impacts of colonization and slavery, Benin pushes on and a country, facing problems as they come along. As a man named Huzaifah Mahmood says in an article he wrote:

While slavery and colonialism has had its impact on the country, their destructive forces have not held the test of time. The country is, by my definition of the word, experiencing development. The people understand what it means to be free, and exercise their constitutional right to vote. While of course there is much more that needs to be done in order to qualify Benin as a developed nation, they are moving in the right direction.

(Mahmood)
Despite its rich and thriving culture, Benin and its people also face many challenges. Economic growth is one of these. Due to lack of technology, Benin has faced very slow economic growth. However, its economy is currently back on the rise and Benin’s government is making and continuing its efforts to promote the diversification and modernization of its country and has also introduced structural reforms to revitalize the economy. Benin still lags in the competitiveness and still lacks the broad based economic activity that it needs in order to reduce its overwhelming poverty, but since independence, help from other countries and organizations in Benin’s regular and developmental budgets along with Benin's internal efforts, have made the slow economy and overwhelming poverty a little less painful. Another problem currently present in Beinin is the relative status of men and women. Despite being promised by the constitution of nineteen seventy-seven, legal equality has been ignored in practice in Benin and currently, around sixty-five percent of girls aren’t in school. Benin also has division of labor by gender, which may not entirely be a problem, but is different than the United States. Men, for instance, do the heavier tasks and women help plant, harvest, carry wood and water and are responsible for household tasks. Along with economic growth and gender equality, Benin’s rainforests are struggling. In place of Benin’s original rainforest, except near rivers, the land has been cleared and food crops are now cultivated. However, efforts like the “W” National Park are helping to preserve diverse wildlife in Benin. Although Benin is facing many problems as a country, it continues to persevere, working to accomplish its goals.
Benin is a place of rich culture and diverse wildlife. The country is fighting to preserve its wonderful aspects. The people know what it is to have rights, the government is working hard to aid in the preservation of its resources. Other countries are helping out and, although there are some issues that are hard to solve, such as its poverty, Benin is doing pretty well.