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Benin
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Benin was the seat of one of the great medieval African kingdoms called Danhomey. Europeans began arriving in the area in the 18th century, as the kingdom of Danhomey was expanding its territory. The Portuguese, the French, and the Dutch established trading posts along the coast (Porto-Novo, Ouidah, Cotonou), and traded weapons for slaves. Slave trade ended in 1848. Then, the French signed treaties with Kings of Abomey (Guézo, Glèlè) and Hogbonou (Toffa) to establish French protectorates in the main cities and ports. However, King Behanzin fought the French influence, which cost him deportation to Martinique.
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Benin is a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). Its currency is the CFA franc, which is issued by the Central Bank of West African states (BCEAO). In order to stimulate economic recovery, an adjustment of the exchange rate was implemented and the CFA franc was devalued by 50 percent on January 11, 1994. One USD dollar presently equals about CFA 520 (June 2005). The conversion system does not set restrictions on international transfers. However, for a certain amount of transfer out the investor needs to get authorization from the Ministry of Finance and Economy by filling out the form named “Formulaire d’Autorisation de Change”.
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Along the coast, Benin has a sandy barrier beach with no natural harbors. The northern side of the beach consists of shallow lagoons, and farther north is a fertile lowland, most of which is intensively cultivated. In northern Benin, the land rises into a 1,600-ft high plateau of ancient rocks and mostly infertile soils and covers the rugged Atakora Mountains in the northwest. The main rivers of northern Benin are the Niger, which forms part of the boundary with the republic of Niger, and its tributaries, the Sota, Mékrou, and Alibori.
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Benin has a tropical climate. Its economy is based primarily on agriculture, and many of the country’s farmers work at a subsistence level. Although Benin experienced considerable economic growth during the 1990s, it remains one of the poorest countries in Africa.
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The biggest challenge facing many U.S. exporters to the Benin market is not quality, price, or product standards. Rather, it is the difficulty in finding consolidators who can ship smaller orders in ocean-bound freight containers at a competitive price and frequency. The frequency of shipper service from U.S. ports to Cotonou is less frequent and more costly than similar service from Europe. Consequently, European (and especially French) food products dominate the local market. This being said, a U.S. exporter who offers a competitive price and finds a reliable consolidator and shipper could reap significant rewards in the Benin market. There are currently two shipping lines working directly between the East Coast of the United States and the West Coast of Africa: Maersk and Getma. While these two vessels per month bound for the trans-Atlantic route are fewer than the dozens bound for Europe, they represent new opportunities for efficient and reliable transportation without the need to transit Europe. These lines will continue to be operational for the time being despite concerns about possible security repercussions the U.S. will impose on containers originating from Benin due to the Port's non-compliance of the International Port Security Code.
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![Head of an Oba [Nigeria; Edo peoples, court of Benin]](http://retrieverimages.lycos.com/images/b/e/n/benin/i/016.jpg)
Current leaders of the kingdom of Benin trace their origins to a ruling dynasty that began in the fourteenth century. Brass commemorative heads are commissioned by each oba (king) in the first years of his reign to honor his immediate predecessor. Although these heads represent specific obas, they are not portraits in the sense that they capture the individual features of the kings. Rather, they are idealized depictions that emphasize the trappings of kingship. Consequently, the attribution of specific heads to particular obas has eluded scholars. However, since these heads document a unique historical narrative, scholars have attempted to determine the sequence in which they were created based on their stylistic and physical attributes.
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