Description

Benin, a country in Western Africa, is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso and Niger to the north, and the Bight of Benin to the north. The southern part of the country is covered by coastal plains and this is where the largest cities, Porto Novo and Cotonou are located. The northern part of the country consists of savannas and semi arid highlands. The climate is hot and humid except for the two rainy seasons that occur per year.

The President of Benin is head of state, head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government, Legislative power is vested in both the government and legislature, and Judiciary is independent of both. This political systems is derived from the 1990 Constitution of Benin.

Vodun, or Voodoo, is believed to have originated in Benin. It was introduced to Brazil, the Caribbean Islands, and parts of North America by slaves taken from this area of the Slave Coast. Vondun has been recognized as one of Benin's official religions and is practiced by over 60 percent of the population. In elementary schools, local languages are used as the language of instruction. French, the official language of Benin, is introduced after several years.

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