Play

Porto-Novo

Capital of BeninPorto-Novo sits in the southeast of Benin on an inlet of the Gulf of Guinea. A lagoon separates it from the Atlantic Ocean, and the border with Nigeria is only about 12 km away.

Why it's the capital

The town first grew as a port for the Atlantic slave trade. Its kingdom accepted French protection in 1863, and by 1900 Porto-Novo was the capital of French Dahomey. After independence in 1960 it stayed the official capital, where the national legislature sits.

Fun facts

  1. The name is Portuguese for 'New Port'. In 1730 the Portuguese Eucaristo de Campos gave it this name because it reminded him of the city of Porto.
  2. The city has older local names too: the Yoruba call it Ajashe, and the Gun people call it Hogbonu.
  3. The design of the Great Mosque was inspired by the churches of Salvador de Bahia in Brazil.

Finding it on the globe

Benin is a narrow strip of land between Togo and Nigeria with a short coast. Tap the eastern end of that coast, a little east of Cotonou and close to the Nigerian border.

Easy to mix up

Many players tap Cotonou, Benin's largest city and the seat of government. Porto-Novo, a little farther east, is the official capital.

Sources: Wikipedia: Porto-Novo, Wikipedia: Cotonou, Wikipedia: Benin