Cotonou

Cotonou
Aerial view of Cotonou in January 2017.
Cotonou Location of Cotonou in Benin
Coordinates: 6°22′N 2°26′E / 6.367°N 2.433°E / 6.367; 2.433Coordinates: 6°22′N 2°26′E / 6.367°N 2.433°E / 6.367; 2.433
Country	Benin
Department	Littoral Department
Government
• Mayor	Nicéphore Soglo (2008–2014)
Area
• Total	79 km2 (31 sq mi)
Elevation	51 m (167 ft)
Population (2012)[1]
• Total	779,314
• Density	9,900/km2 (26,000/sq mi)

Cotonou (French pronunciation: ​[kɔtɔnu]),^[2] is the largest city and economic centre of Benin.

Its official population count was 761,137 inhabitants in 2006; however, some estimates indicate its population to be as high as 1.2 million. The population in 1960 was only 70,000. The urban area continues to expand, notably toward the west. The city lies in the southeast of the country, between the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Nokoué.^[3]

In addition to being Benin's largest city, it is the seat of government, although Porto-Novo is the official capital. It is home to most of the country's government buildings and diplomatic services. The city is a major port and home to an airport and a railway that links to Parakou. Other features include Cotonou Friendship Stadium, Cotonou Cathedral, Cotonou Central Mosque, the Ancien Pont Bridge and the 20-hectare Dantokpa Market, which has a commercial turnover of over one billion CFA Francs a day. Another familiar feature is the motorcycle-taxis known as Zémidjans.

Cotonou and surroundings

History

The name "Cotonou" means "by the river of death" in the Fon language. At the beginning of the 19th century, Cotonou (then spelled "Kutonou") was a small fishing village. Though originally ruled by the Kingdom of Dahomey, in 1851 the French made a treaty with the Dahomean King Ghezo that allowed them to establish a trading post at Cotonou. During the reign of Glele, his successor (1858–89), the territory was ceded to France by a treaty signed on May 19, 1868. In 1883, the French navy occupied the city to prevent British conquest of the area. After Glele's death in 1889, his son Béhanzin tried, unsuccessfully, to challenge the treaty. From then on, the town developed quickly to become the largest harbour in the region.

Geography

The Oueme River as it flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Cotonou

Cotonou is on the coastal strip between Lake Nokoué and the Atlantic Ocean. The city is cut in two by a canal, the lagoon of Cotonou, dug by the French in 1855. Three bridges are in this area. The Oueme River flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Cotonou.

The city has established transportation infrastructure including air, sea, river (to Porto Novo), and land routes that facilitate trade with its neighbors Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Togo.

The erosion of the coast has noted for several decades. It worsened in 1961 following the major work undertaken in Benin with the construction of the Nangbéto dam and deep-water port of Cotonou. A pilot project funded by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) revealed that in 40 years, the coast to the east of Cotonou had retreated by 400 meters.^[4] This erosion has led many people to leave their homes along the coast.^[5]

Climate

Climate

Under Köppen's climate classification, Cotonou features a tropical wet and dry climate, alternating with two rainy seasons (April–July and September–October, 800 to 1,200 mm (47 in) of rain per year) and two dry seasons. In December and January, the city is affected by harmattan winds. Temperatures are relatively constant throughout the year, with the average high temperatures hovering around 30 °C (86 °F), and average low temperatures at around 25 °C (77 °F).

Demographics

Cotonou women

• 1979: 320,348 (census count)
• 1992: 536,827 (census count)
• 2002: 665,100 (estimate)
• 2005: 690,584 (estimate)

Besides French (the official language of Benin), the main languages spoken in Cotonou include Fon, Mina, Aja and Yoruba.

Transport

The Autonomous Port of Cotonou is one of the largest in West Africa. The city is connected to Parakou in the north by the Benin-Niger railway. Cotonou International Airport provides service to the capitals of the region and to France, as well as the major cities of Benin: Parakou, Kandi, Natitingou, Djougou, and Savé. There are road connections to neighboring countries: Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Togo. A prevalent mode of transport in the city is the motorcycle-taxi, Zémidjan.

In 2015 a suburban passenger railway line was being developed between Cotonou and Pahou.^[9]

Economy

Because of its status as a transport hub, Cotonou has become a crossroads of West African commerce, with much trade moving here from Abidjan because of the Ivorian Civil War. The city is a so-called "market town," enabling trade with the countries of the African interior, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. In addition to the port, there is a free trade zone in the interior of the city for use by the landlocked Saharan states. However, the city is rife with corruption and illegal trade, especially with neighboring Nigeria. It can be considered the economic capital as it houses two-thirds of Benin's industries and is the headquarters of the nation's major enterprises and banks.

Important manufactured goods include palm oil and cake, brewing, textiles, and cement. Motor vehicles and bicycles are assembled, and there are sawmills in the city. Petroleum products, bauxite, and iron are major exports. There are offshore platforms drilling for oil. The city is a center for the automotive trade, with European brands being sold from vast open-air parking lots. In the past, Citroën assembled cars (for instance, the Citroën 2CV and Ami 8) locally.^[10]

By 2012, piracy in the Gulf of Guinea had significantly decreased trade at the port of Cotonou.^[11]

In the Missebo area, Cotonou is a textile market of African print mainly handled by Indian wholesalers and retailers.

Main sights

• Cotonou Cathedral or Notre Dame des Apôtres, near the Ancien Pont. It is noted for its distinct burgundy-and-white-striped tiles. The cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cotonou. The diocese was originally created on June 26, 1883, as the Apostolic Prefecture of Dahomey from the Apostolic Vicariate of Benin Coast, Nigeria. After several names changes under Dahomey, on 14 September 1955 it was promoted as the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cotonou. The cathedral was run by Archbishop Bernardin Gantin (died 2008) from 1960 to 1971.
• National University of Benin
• Ancien Pont Bridge
• Dantokpa Market
• Cotonou Lighthouse

Media

The Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Bénin (ORTB) — the national television and radio operator — is based in Cotonou.

See also

• Timeline of Cotonou
• Cotonou Agreement
• List of deep water ports
• Railway stations in Benin

Gallery

• 
  Boulevard Saint Michel de Cotonou.
• 
  Street scene in Cotonou
• 
  Cotonou Cathedral.
• 
  Ancien Pont Bridge.
• 
  The headquarters in Cotonou of the ORTB

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cotonou.

• Cotonou Internet Portal

Communes of Benin
Alibori Department	Banikoara Gogounou Kandi Karimama Malanville Ségbana
Atakora Department	Boukoumbé Cobly Kérou Kouandé Matéri Natitingou Pehonko Tanguiéta Toucountouna
Atlantique Department	Abomey-Calavi Allada Kpomassè Ouidah Sô-Ava Toffo Tori-Bossito Zè
Borgou Department	Bembèrèkè Kalalè N'Dali Nikki Parakou Pèrèrè Sinendé Tchaourou
Collines Department	Bantè Dassa-Zoumè Glazoué Ouèssè Savalou Savé
Donga Department	Bassila Copargo Djougou Ouaké
Kouffo Department	Aplahoué Djakotomey Dogbo-Tota Klouékanmè Lalo Toviklin
Littoral Department	Cotonou
Mono Department	Athiémè Bopa Comé Grand-Popo Houéyogbé Lokossa
Ouémé Department	Adjarra Adjohoun Aguégués Akpro-Missérété Avrankou Bonou Dangbo Porto-Novo Sèmè-Kpodji
Plateau Department	Ifangni Adja-Ouèrè Kétou Pobè Sakété
Zou Department	Abomey Agbangnizoun Bohicon Covè Djidja Ouinhi Za-Kpota Zagnanado Zogbodomey