Bassila is a town,

arrondissement An arrondissement (, , ) is any of various administrative divisions of France, Belgium, Haiti, certain other Francophone countries, as well as the Netherlands. Europe France The 101 French departments are divided into 342 ''arrondissements' ...

, and

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

located in the

Donga Department Donga is one of the twelve departments of Benin; its capital is Djougou, the fourth largest city in the country. The department of Donga was created in 1999 when it was split off from Atakora Department. Donga is subdivided into five communes, ea ...

Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north ...

. The commune covers an area of 120 square kilometres and as of 2013 had a population of 130,770 people. The

RNIE 3 RNIE 3 is a national highway of Benin. It passes from north to south in the west of the country running near the border with Togo. Cities and towns *Tanguiéta *Natitingou *Bassila Bassila is a town, arrondissement, and commune located in th ...

highway of Benin passes through the town of Bassila and the commune. The main ethnic groups in the commune are in the order of significance: Yoruba/Nagot who are the native dwellers, as well as smaller migrant communities of Anii and

Tem people The Tém (also known as the Temba or Kotokoliare) an ethnic group of Togo, but also found in Benin and Ghana. There is reported to be about 417,000 of the Tém, with 339,000 in Togo, 60,000 in Ghana and 18,000 in Benin. They speak the Tem languag ...

otherwise known as 'Kotokoli'. The

Nagots The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...

historically migrated from Nigeria during a westward Yoruba expansion. The town of Bassila is largely Anii, and is the largest Anii-speaking village. Given that Bassila is located in proximity to the border with

Togo Togo (), officially the Togolese Republic (french: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where its c ...

, a significant proportion of the population are of

Togolese Togo (), officially the Togolese Republic (french: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where its c ...

origin (Anii and Kotokoli migrants). Bassila is the second largest arrondissement in Benin by land area.

Mont Sokbaro Mont Sokbaro (also spelled as SagbaraoTchaboue, B.I. (2015) ''Tourisme et developpement socio-economique dans la commune de Bassila (Benin)''. Université d'Abomey-Calavi) is a hill that is mostly cited as the highest point of Benin, with an eleva ...

, widely cited as the highest point of Benin, lies in Bassila commune, on the border with

Towns and villages

Adeli, Afodiobo, Agougou,

Akarade Akarade is a village in the commune of Bassila in the Donga Department of western Benin. It is located near the border with Togo Togo (), officially the Togolese Republic (french: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It is bor ...

, Aledjo-Koura, Aletoutou, Alori,

Assion Assion is a village in the commune of Bassila in the Donga Department of western Benin. It is located near the border with Togo Togo (), officially the Togolese Republic (french: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It is bord ...

Aworo Aworo is a village in the commune of Bassila in the Donga Department of western Benin. It is located near the border with Togo Togo (), officially the Togolese Republic (french: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It is borde ...

Bakana-Kari Bakana-Kari is a village in the commune of Bassila in the Donga Department of western Benin. It is located near the border with Togo Togo (), officially the Togolese Republic (french: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It i ...

Bakperou Bakperou is a village in the commune of Bassila in the Donga Department of western Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West ...

Baningli Baningli is a village in the commune of Bassila in the Donga Department of western Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West ...

, Bassila, Bayakou,

Biguina Biguina is a community or village in the commune of Bassila in the Donga Department of northwestern Benin. It is located near the border with Togo and it sits on Benin's ''Route Nationale 3'', one of the two main north-south highways in the countr ...

, Bodi,

Bomako Bomako is a village in the commune of Bassila in the Donga Department of western Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West ...

, Boutou,

Diengou Diengou is a village in the commune of Bassila in the Donga Department of western Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West ...

, Dogue, Gando, Gaougado, Gassagadi, Gatakpal, Goutoungadoni, Guiguizo,

Igbere Igbere is a suburban town in Bende local government aArea of Abia State of the South-Eastern geopolitical region Nigeria. Also popularly known and referred to as the Igbere Ebiri, the town is the core "part of Old-Bende Division of the former E ...

, Igbomakoro, Inkolonie, Iyo, Kadjimani, Kaoute,

Katia Katia is a feminine given name. It is a variant of Katya. Notable people with this name Actresses and models * Katia Dandoulaki, Greek actress *Katia Margaritoglou, Greek fashion model and beauty contestant *Katia Winter (born 1983), Swedis ...

, Kemeni, Kemetou Alidjo, Kemetou Penezoulou,

Kikele Kikele is a village in the commune of Bassila in the Donga Department of western Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West ...

, Koakoaliki, Kokotyi, Kominde, Kouloumizi, Kpartao, Kpendi, Lagbere, Liro, Madiatom,

Manigri Manigri is a small town and arrondissement in the commune of Bassila in the Donga Department of west central Benin. It is a south-eastern suburb of Bassila town. Manigri has several surrounding towns and villages such as; Igbere, Kikele, Manigr ...

, Mborko, Ngioro, Ngmellang, Niala, Odokoriko, Odola, Ogougouworo, Okouta-Boussa, Penelan,

Pénéssoulou Pénéssoulou is a village and arrondissement in the commune of Bassila in the Donga Department of western Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahom ...

Prekete Prekete is a village in the commune of Bassila in the Donga Department of western Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in Wes ...

, Sakouna, Sakouna-Neugbawaperoun,

Saramanga Saramanga is a village in the commune of Bassila in the Donga Department of western Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in ...

, Tchembere, Tiakpartia, Tiatiala, Touroumini, Wetietie, Yadia,

Yari is the term for a traditionally-made Japanese blade (日本刀; nihontō) in the form of a spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear. The martial art of wielding the is called . History The forerunner of the is thought to be a ...

Notable people

Alphonse Alley Alphonse Amadou Alley (April 9, 1930 – March 28, 1987) was a Beninese army officer and political figure. He was most active when his country was known as Dahomey. He was born in Bassila, central Dahomey, and enrolled in schools in Togo, Cote d ...

References

Arrondissements of Benin Communes of Benin Populated places in the Donga Department Communes in Yorubaland {{DongaDepartment-geo-stub