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Background: Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged.

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By Erika
September 21st 2007

Kate and Tina

Africa » Benin » South » Athiémé

At the Beach
The ultimate relaxation, even with a little rain and terrifying waves.

This is late, but these are photos of Kate and Tina's visit in June. [View Full Entry]

By Erika
August 28th 2007

More Pictures

Africa » Benin » South » Athiémé

On the Road
More like 'In the Road.' This is en route to visit the dam. We spent a long time getting this car un-stuck, and this picture is the first of three times in seven hours. This was the easiest and dries... [more]

Oh- this site is so neglected! Pardonnez-moi beaucoup! Here are some pictures, maybe that will help... [View Full Entry]

By amphillips
July 5th 2007

map

Africa » Benin » South » Ganvie

here's a link to a map of our trip http://www.travelblog.org/gmaps/map_4f0.html [View Full Entry]

By Donny
May 9th 2007

Don't Mess With The Birds

Africa » Benin

Fisherman on Lake Nokoue
The lake is filled with fish traps and little fishermans huts.

At the border of Benin it is possible to get a 48 hour transit visa, thus saving a lot of time and money messing about at embassies. It isn’t as much of a race through the country as you might think because fortunately, the country is only 100km across and its two principal attractions lie quite close together. Ganvie is a town built on stilts in the centre of a large, shallow lake. The 27000 Tofinu people that live in the town, are descendents of a large group that escaped the Dahomey slave traders in the 17th century. It took half [View Full Entry]

By Erika
April 30th 2007

On With Life

Africa » Benin » South » Athiémé

How to Catch Fish
Move the net in. The net covered most of the pond, and was moved in through the course of a week.

This is an entry I have posted on the Peace Corps website, but I am publishing here because I want to add pictures. The pictures with this entry actually have no relation with the writing. Following entries might or might not have the same pictures/writing relationship. I have kept a journal for along time; since third grade, with only a few months missing here and there. Usually writing, especially journal writing, flows easily from my brain to my pen-controlling hand, as easily as one foot follows the other while running. Lately I have had many false starts- the 18th of [View Full Entry]

By Erika
April 30th 2007

Welcome to the Elements

Africa » Benin » South » Athiémé

A Friend in Her Kitchen
I said something funny.

The Weather I was sleeping on the porch, as normal, and was still hot, as normal, though the porch is many many times cooler than any other place in the house. The breeze can always find me there, so that is where I sleep. When I say hot, I mean that candles don’t hold their upright position, and if I were to sleep inside, I would sweat so much that I would wake up often to drink water and still not have to urinate in the morning. And that’s at night. I had gone out for a drink in the [View Full Entry]

By Erika
February 24th 2007

What You Have Not Seen

Africa » Benin » South » Athiémé

Blandine and I
Girls' Nite Out- to see hippos. Meet Blandine, Jacy's girlfriend from Dogbo. She's cute too.

Because I have some time on my hands... [View Full Entry]

By Erika
February 20th 2007

Of the Near Future

Africa » Benin » South » Athiémé

My eyes met directly with two others this morning. Two blondish ears, kind of over-large for my companion’s being, perked eagerly, awaiting my response. This was the unspoken dialogue: Bubs: “Can we wake up now?” Erika: “No.” His elbows thunked and he sighed as he went back to waiting. The weather has changed again. Harmattan and its dust have left, leaving clear blue skies. These clear blue skies are otherwise known as direct sunrays. Ugh. Hot. My elbows thunk and I sigh as I, and everyone else, wait for the rain. Work is moving, if I translate di [View Full Entry]

By Erika
January 15th 2007

How to Spend a Long Weekend in Cotonou

Africa » Benin » South » Cotonou

Step 1: Disassemble plans. They hadn’t really meant anything, anyway. Don’t be silly. I left Athiémé as early as possible Friday morning to arrive on time to apply for a visa for Ghana. I made it to Cotonou by noon, and happened to find a volunteer-friend (she volunteered to be my friend) at the office. She gave me two critical pieces of information because she is a good volunteer: 1) that I needed my passport to have the visa stamped in, but because I am kinda stupid, my passport was still in Athiémé, and 2) that Ghana was on holiday, so [View Full Entry]

By Erika
January 15th 2007

Bonne Fete

Africa » Benin » South » Athiémé

First Morning in Benin
Guillaume and Freddi came over first thing to welcome my family. They were eager to show my family that they had already met them through my photos.

The Summary: Stuart finally has blue lips. He is the only one of the Kansas family that has been in the West African coastal waters for two hours or more. Three of the remaining four stayed for an hour or so. The fifth waded in until a man cleaned out his sinuses without forewarning. Ew; she went back to her book. Four more Kansans in Africa- the first time leaving the North American continent- to visit another Kansan who has left the States three times: for one night in Fernie, British Columbia, then 12 days in Thailand, and now a couple [View Full Entry]

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Travel Blog » Africa » Benin