You're going where?
A few times when we have told people we are traveling to Benin, we get a blank look and then they say, "Where?"
It seems that Benin may be one of the lesser-known countries in West Africa among the average Canadian.
Benin is a small country in French West Africa, nestled between Togo and Nigeria. It has a population of 11. 63 million. As with many African countries, it is made up of a mix of ethnic groups. The language of commerce and education is French, reflecting its French colonial past.
Beginning in the 1550's Benin became a center for the slave trade, with the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French all in on the action. For almost two full centuries (from 1650 - 1840) Benin was know as the Slave Coast. We will be visiting a slave port while we are in Benin and are anticipating that it will be a very sobering experience.
Benin gained its independence in 1960, and became a democratic country in 1989. It is a peaceful, stable country.
St Jacobs Mennonite Church has had an official partnership with the Benin Bible Institute (BBI)for a bit over 10 years now, though our relationship goes back further than that. Our partnership includes visits in both directions, and so over the years we have met many representatives from BBI when they visited Canada. We are looking forward to having familiar faces welcome us to Benin.
A few times when we have told people we are traveling to Benin, we get a blank look and then they say, "Where?"
It seems that Benin may be one of the lesser-known countries in West Africa among the average Canadian.
Benin is a small country in French West Africa, nestled between Togo and Nigeria. It has a population of 11. 63 million. As with many African countries, it is made up of a mix of ethnic groups. The language of commerce and education is French, reflecting its French colonial past.
Beginning in the 1550's Benin became a center for the slave trade, with the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French all in on the action. For almost two full centuries (from 1650 - 1840) Benin was know as the Slave Coast. We will be visiting a slave port while we are in Benin and are anticipating that it will be a very sobering experience.
Benin gained its independence in 1960, and became a democratic country in 1989. It is a peaceful, stable country.
St Jacobs Mennonite Church has had an official partnership with the Benin Bible Institute (BBI)for a bit over 10 years now, though our relationship goes back further than that. Our partnership includes visits in both directions, and so over the years we have met many representatives from BBI when they visited Canada. We are looking forward to having familiar faces welcome us to Benin.