Q 01/05

What is the official capital of Benin?

A) Abomey

B) Natitingou

C) Porto-Novo

D) Ouidah

Answer · why

C) Porto-Novo

Porto-Novo keeps the title and the national legislature, but the presidency, most ministries and the embassies sit in a larger port city just along th...

Q 02/05

Which city is Benin's chief port and seat of government, though not its official capital?

A) Cotonou

B) Parakou

C) Djougou

D) Porto-Novo

Answer · why

A) Cotonou

Cotonou is the de facto administrative capital, home to the president and most ministers, while the official capital keeps little more than the legisl...

Q 03/05

In which year was Dahomey renamed Benin, after the Bight of Benin?

A) 1980

B) 1975

C) 1990

D) 1977

Answer · why

B) 1975

The Marxist regime chose the new name because "Dahomey" was tied only to the Fon people of the south.

Q 04/05

Which two countries border Benin to the west and east?

A) Togo and Cameroon

B) Ghana and Nigeria

C) Togo and Nigeria

D) Ivory Coast and Niger

Answer · why

C) Togo and Nigeria

Togo and Nigeria squeeze Benin into a narrow wedge: its coast is only about 120 km wide, yet the country runs some 675 km inland to the Niger River.

Q 05/05

What does Benin's 1 August national holiday mark?

A) A name change

B) Independence

C) A revolution

D) A new constitution

Answer · why

B) Independence

Independence from France came on 1 August 1960, but not for a country called Benin: the new state was Dahomey, and kept that name for its first 15 yea...