Benin - Muslims in the Land of Voodoo

The Birthplace of Voodoo

Benin is located on the Western shore of Africa between the countries of Nigeria and Togo. It has a long history of human sacrifice and is the birthplace of Voodoo. Benin is also classified as one of the least developed nations in the world.

Several African kingdoms were founded in the region that is now Benin. By the 1600's, the kingdom of Dahomey, with Abomey its capital, controlled the area. Europeans began to establish slave-trading posts along the coast about this time. The power of the king of Dahomey was based largely on the slave trade. Portuguese slavers and French colonists exerted their influence on the country, as did freed Brazilian slaves who returned to settle there. With the exception of some hill country in the central region, Benin is a mostly flat country covered with dense vegetation. Most people live in rural village settings (70%) and are involved in agriculture.

Christian Missions to Benin

Most of Benin's Muslims practice folk Islam (popular Islam) that includes magic and other animistic practices. This kind of Islam is easily accepted because it is nearer to the traditional religions they have practiced in the past.

Flag of Benin

Benin Map

The number of Muslims in Benin is increasing daily across the whole land. Over thirty Muslim organisations are at work to proclaim and establish Islam across Benin. In the north, Islam is either the predominant religious influence or a significant minority force. Christian missions have been active in the southern provinces for generations, but they have been active among the northern Islamic peoples only during the last 30 years. Praise God that a small number of the Muslim Fula have turned to Christ in recent years.

Prayer Guide for Benin:

* Pray for the following people groups which are in majority Muslim: ANII (7,000 ), DENDI (30,000), TEM (Kotokoli) (43,000), NAGO (175,000), Fula (Fulani) (293,900) Additional Muslims are found in other people groups including immigrants from Nigeria and Burkina Faso.

* Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favour to the missions agencies that are currently targeting the the Muslims in Benin (there are relatively few). Pray that Benin's Christians would be motivated to proclaim Christ among the their Muslim neighbours. Ask the Lord to anoint the showing of the Jesus film, with many conversions resulting.

* Pray that God will reveal Himself to the Benin's Muslims through healings, as well as dreams, visions, and preaching.

Background on Benin (World Factbook)

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 stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and independent. YAYI has attempted to stem corruption and has strongly promoted accelerating Benin's economic growth.

Economy of Benin

The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged around 5% in the past six years, but rapid population growth has offset much of this increase. Benin continues to be hurt by Nigerian trade protection that bans imports of a growing list of products from Benin and elsewhere, which has resulted in increased smuggling and criminality in the border region.

Statistics on Benin

Population: 9,325,032 *see notes below (July 2011 est.) World Rank #89

Life Expectancy at Birth: 59.84 years. World Rank #187

Ethnic groups: Fon and related 39.2%, Adja and related 15.2%, Yoruba and related 12.3%, Bariba and related 9.2%, Peulh and related 7%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%, Dendi and related 2.5%, other 1.6% (includes Europeans), unspecified 2.9%

Religions: Christian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%), Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, other 15.5%

Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)

Literacy: 34.7% male: 47.9% - female: 23.3%

School Life Expectancy: 9 years

Population notes: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.

Birth of Voodoo - Video

Voodoo was born in the West African nation of Benin. And here it is an official religion.

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