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Parakou is the largest city in northern Benin, with an estimated population of around 206,667 people, and capital of the Borgou Department. Administratively the commune of Parakou makes up one of Benin's 77 communes. Since 2015, its mayor is Souradjou Adamou Karimou.


History

The city was founded in the 16th century by traders.


Economy

Parakou lies on the main north-south highway RNIE 2 and at the end of a railway to
Cotonou Cotonou (; fon, Kútɔ̀nú) is a city in Benin. Its official population count was 679,012 inhabitants in 2012; however, over two million people live in the larger urban area. The urban area continues to expand, notably toward the west. The ci ...
.


Markets

This has made it an important market town, with major industries including cotton and textiles, peanut oil manufacture and brewing. The town grew initially from revenue generated from passing merchants that took goods from the region across the
Sahara , photo = Sahara real color.jpg , photo_caption = The Sahara taken by Apollo 17 astronauts, 1972 , map = , map_image = , location = , country = , country1 = , ...
and the Mediterranean to Europe.Butler, Stuart (2019) ''Bradt Travel Guide - Benin'', pgs. 177-180 Parakou later became well known in the slave trade. Later traders concentrated on cotton and Parakou remains the hub of the Beninese cotton trade to this day, with considerable interest from Europe. There are several markets trading, notably the largest, Grand Marché Azeke which one of the largest in Benin, an international market spanning over a block. This market has a large covered hall overlapping onto the streets with stalls, with 500 and 1000 vendors. The market sells an enormous range of goods from items of pottery including vases and bowls, to cotton textiles, cassettes and CD's of local and international artists, local spices, fruits, gasaru/wagasi (cow's milk cheese) and kitchen utensils. Another market, located several blocks north, is called the "Marché Kobo Kobo", which lies across the street from the French Cultural Centre. Marché Kobo Kobo is known for its clothing retailing, primarily second hand goods, and in another section livestock. The Marché Depot is located near Parakou Railway Station around numerous hotels and sells mostly food but also calabashes and baskets. There is also the Marché Guema, located next to Guema Church on the northern road to
Malanville Malanville is a city, arrondissement and commune in the Alibori Department of northeastern Benin, located across the River Niger from Niger. It is known as a centre of cross-border trade and has a major market. Malanville is also a centre for rice ...
in the Albarika quarter of the city. The market was founded by the Somba people of the
Atacora Atakora is the northwesternmost department of Benin. Externally it borders Togo to the west and Burkina Faso to the north; internally it borders the departments of Alibori, Borgou and Donga. Major towns in the Atakora include Natitingou and Tan ...
, and takes place every Sunday at 10 am. The market consists of a collection of grass huts, and specialises in beef and pork and local millet beer known as
choukachou Choukachou or chouk is a Beninese type of millet beer. It is widely consumed in northern Benin and the city of Parakou is an important centre for brewing. The beer is transported to southern Benin, Cotonou Cotonou (; fon, Kútɔ̀nú) is a city ...
or simply "chouk".


Inland Port

Parakou is the site of a proposed inland port. The dry port is a multi-modal platform located 3 km from the centre of Parakou, close to the railway. It gives the
Backbone Project The backbone is the vertebral column of a vertebrate. Arts, entertainment, and media Film * ''Backbone'' (1923 film), a 1923 lost silent film starring Alfred Lunt * ''Backbone'' (1975 film), a 1975 Yugoslavian drama directed by Vlatko Gilić M ...
a strategic position for imports and exports to neighbouring countries, notably Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Togo.


Demographics

The name, Parakou, is derived from a Dendi word meaning "the city of everyone", named for the city's diversity of ethnicities. As a market town attracting many people as a trading and stop-off point, Parakou has a large mix of African ethnicities, including fula, Dendi, Somba, Fon, Mina, Bariba, Djerma,
Yoruba 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 ...
(of the Nago tribe), Hausa, Kabrais, Warma, and Tuareg. In 1979 the city was reported as having 60,915 people and according to the official census of 1992, Parakou had a population of 103,577. In the last 15–20 years the population of Parakou has nearly doubled with 149,819 recorded in 2002 and with the most recent census in 2013, the population was 255,478.


Climate


Culture

The city has a museum, the
Musée en Plein Air de Parakou Musée en Plein Air de Parakou is a museum located approximately south of the centre of the city Parakou, Benin in the suburbs. The museum consists of five circular complexes representing the traditional housing of the local Batanou peoples. The ...
.


Administration

Parakou is one of the 77 official
communes of Benin The departments of Benin are subdivided into 77 communes, which in turn are divided into arrondissements and finally into villages or city districts. Prior to 1999 provinces were broken down into 84 districts, titled either urban or rural. Bef ...
. The mayor of the commune and city as of 2008 is Samou Seidou Adambi.


Villages

The commune of Parakou contains the following villages:
Amawihon Amawihon is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a coun ...
,
Bakaga Bakaga is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a countr ...
,
Bakounkparou Bakounkparou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a ...
,
Bakounourou Bakounourou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south of the city centre. External linksSatellite map at Maplandia
Populated places in the Borgou Department Commune of Pa ...
,
Baperou Baperou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south-west of the city centre on the RNIE 2 RNIE 2 is a national highway of Benin. It is Benin's main north–south highway which ru ...
,
Bereyadou Bereyadou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south-west of the city centre on the RNIE 2 highway. External linksSatellite map at Maplandia
Populated places in the Borgou ...
,
Borarou Borarou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a cou ...
,
Darou Kourarou Darou Kourarou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is ...
,
Debregourou Debregourou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north of the city centre on the RNIE 2 highway. External linksSatellite map at Maplandia Populated places in the Borgou D ...
,
Dokparou Dokparou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a coun ...
,
Douerou Douerou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a count ...
,
Forane Kparou Forane Kparou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is ...
,
Gagbebou Gagbebou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a coun ...
,
Ganou Ganou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country ...
,
Ga Yakabou Ga Yakabou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a co ...
,
Gommboko Gommboko is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a coun ...
,
Gorobani Gorobani is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a coun ...
,
Gouforou Gouforou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a coun ...
,
Goutere Goutere is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a cou ...
, Guema, Guererou,
Guinrerou Guinrerou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located west of Parakou city centre along the RNIE 6 RNIE 6 is a national highway of Benin located in the east of the country. Cities a ...
,
Kaborokpo Kaborokpo is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a c ...
,
Kabro Kabro is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located west of Parakou city centre. External linksSatellite map at Maplandia
Populated places in the Borgou Department Commune of Parak ...
,
Karobouarou Karobouarou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a c ...
, Kipare, Konkoma,
Koumerou Koumerou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a cou ...
, Kperou Guera,
Moundouro Moundouro is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a cou ...
,
Nekinparo Nekinparo is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south of Parakou city centre along the RNIE 2 RNIE 2 is a national highway of Benin. It is Benin's main north–south highway whic ...
,
Nikikperou Nikikperou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a co ...
,
Ouroungourou Ouroungourou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a ...
,
Pepekino Pepekino is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a cou ...
, Pepepeterou,
Sanro Sanro is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a countr ...
,
Senouorou Senouorou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a cou ...
,
Sokoumeno Sokoumeno is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a cou ...
,
Sokouno Sokouno is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south-east of Parakou city centre on the RNIE 6 RNIE 6 is a national highway of Benin located in the east of the country. Cities ...
,
Sonoumo Sonoumo is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a coun ...
, Sourou, Suinrou,
Tabayorourou Tabayorourou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a ...
, Tankaro,
Tankaro Ga Tankaro Ga is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a c ...
,
Teougourou Gando Teougourou Gando is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, ...
, Tian,
Tinekonparou Tinekonparou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a ...
,
Tora Tora or TORA may refer to: People * Tora (given name), female given name * Tora (surname) * Tora people of Arabia and northern Africa * Torá language, an extinct language once spoken in Brazil Places * Tora, Benin, in Borgou Department * Tora, ...
, Tourou,
Wansirou Wansirou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a cou ...
, Weria, Wore,
Worora Worora is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located west of Parakou city centre along the RNIE 6 RNIE 6 is a national highway of Benin located in the east of the country. Cities an ...
,
Yakassirou Yakassirou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a co ...


Education

The
University of Parakou A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...
was founded in 2001.


Places of worship

Among the places of worship, most predominant are
Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
mosques. There are also several
Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
denominations represented: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Parakou ( Catholic Church), Protestant Methodist Church in Benin ( World Methodist Council),
Union of Baptist Churches of Benin Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...
( Baptist World Alliance),
Living Faith Church Worldwide Living Faith Church Worldwide (also known as Winners' Chapel) is an Evangelical charismatic Christian denomination and a megachurch. The headquarters is located in Ota, Nigeria. The organization has since become a global network of churches w ...
,
Redeemed Christian Church of God The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is a Pentecostal megachurch and denomination founded in Lagos, Nigeria. The General overseer (most senior pastor) is Enoch Adeboye, ordained in 1981. The church in Lagos had an average church attendanc ...
and the
Assemblies of God The Assemblies of God (AG), officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 144 autonomous self-governing national groupings of churches that together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination."Assemblies of God". ...
.


Transport

Parakou Railway Station is the last railway station on the Parakou-
Cotonou Cotonou (; fon, Kútɔ̀nú) is a city in Benin. Its official population count was 679,012 inhabitants in 2012; however, over two million people live in the larger urban area. The urban area continues to expand, notably toward the west. The ci ...
railway, however at present it is not open to passenger transportation. Both the national highways RNIE 2 and RNIE 6 pass through Parakou. The city is also served by
Parakou Airport Parakou Airport is a public use airport located 1 km northwest of Parakou, Borgou, Benin. It is to be replaced by the Tourou International Airport, a new airport in Tankaro Tankaro is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou ...
. The government has proposed extending the railway to Dosso in Niger.


Sport

The main football clubs are
Dynamo Unacob FC de Parakou "Dynamo Electric Machine" (end view, partly section, ) A dynamo is an electrical generator that creates direct current using a commutator. Dynamos were the first electrical generators capable of delivering power for industry, and the foundati ...
and
Buffles du Borgou FC Les Buffles Football Club du Borgou, famously known as Les Buffles du Borgou, is a Beninese professional football club based in Parakou, that competes in the Benin Premier League. History The club was founded on 1976 in Paraku under the name of ...
which play in the
Benin Premier League The Benin Premier League, also called ''Championnat National du Bénin'' in French, is the highest football division in Benin. The league was held in 1969 for the first time. Currently, the initial round is a double round-robin tournament, with 36 ...
, the highest division of Beninese football.


Notable people

*
Hubert Maga Coutoucou Hubert Maga (August 10, 1916 – May 8, 2000) was a politician from Dahomey (now known as Benin).Dahomey was renamed Benin in 1975. Se''New York Times'' obituary He arose on a political scene where one's power was dictated by what regi ...
- First President of
Dahomey The Kingdom of Dahomey () was a West African kingdom located within present-day Benin that existed from approximately 1600 until 1904. Dahomey developed on the Abomey Plateau amongst the Fon people in the early 17th century and became a region ...
(the former name of Benin). *
Steve Mounié Steve Michel Mounié (born 29 September 1994) is a Beninese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Brest, whom he captains, and the Benin national team. Club career Montpellier Mounié is a Montpellier HSC youth acade ...
- Professional footballer who played in England for Huddersfield Town in the Premier League and has been capped by Benin at senior international level.


See also

*
Railway stations in Benin There has been continuous provision of rail transport in Benin since 1906. Railway stations in Benin include: Maps UN Map Benin Operational * Cotonou - (0 km) port * Porto Novo - national capital; Cement in Africa, cement factory * Bo ...
*
West Africa Regional Rail Integration The West Africa Regional Rail Integration is a proposal to connect up isolated railway networks in West Africa. Overview In 2009, USTDA approved funding of $750,000 for a feasibility study grant to assist the Union économique et monétaire oue ...


References


Bibliography

* . * {{Authority control Communes of Benin Populated places in Benin