Explore the unique charm of Ganvié, a picturesque rural settlement nestled atop Lake Nokoué in Benin. Known as the “Venice of Africa,” Ganvié captivates with its vibrant culture and stunning scenery.
In the 17th century, in the Kingdom of Dahomey as well as other parts of West Africa, especially in the Atlantic Ocean, the slave trade was very prosperous
The soldiers of the Fon tribe and the kingdom of Dahomey, which has now become the Republic of Benin, were taking some of the poor tribes and selling them as sitters to Portuguese merchants
In order to escape slavery, the people of the Tofinu tribe fled to Lake Nokoué near the city of Cotonou because the imperial army that hunted them was afraid to go to this lake because they thought there was a demon living in its well
These people came to set up a pillar and build a house in the middle of this lake and then came the village of Ganvié The word Ganvié you put in Kinyarwanda means We survived
Although slavery was eventually abolished and slave hunting ceased, the population continued to live in this rural area of Ganvié until today, after it has expanded to its original extent
The area is currently home to 30000 people, most of whom depend on fishing Residents have also been removing land from the shores of the lake and placing it near their homes to raise small animals
Ganvié is now an area consisting of hotels hospitals temples markets and other commercial activities all built on top of Lake Nokoué
Tourism is one of the main sources of income in this area, where at least 10 thousand tourists visit Ganvié every year
The Republic of Benin, formerly known as the Kingdom of Dahomey until the 1970s, is a country located in West Africa, where it is part of the Atlantic Ocean This country shares borders with Nigeria Togo and Burkina Faso
Benin normally has an area of 114763 square kilometers and is inhabited by 12 million people The capital of this country is Porto Novo, while the headquarters of the Government are located in the city of Cotonou
The countrys population uses French as a language of communication, mainly due to its colonization by the French from 1984 until 1960, when it was granted independence There are also traditional languages, including Fon Yoruba Bariba and Dendi
The country is known for being one of the main exporters of cotton palm oil and seafood
Since 2016, Benin has been led by President Patrice Talon