Republic of Dahomey

The Republic of Dahomey , simply known as Dahomey (<a href="/facts/Fon_language/TdkrvueS">Fon</a>: Danhomè), was established on 4 December 1958, as a <a href="/facts/Self-governing_colony/ogFzutam">self-governing colony</a> within the <a href="/facts/French_Community/59VWVYjV">French Community</a>. Prior to attaining autonomy, it had been <a href="/facts/French_Dahomey/lvyMz2Sg">French Dahomey</a>, part of the <a href="/facts/French_Union/7PWc4WKK">French Union</a>. On 1 August 1960, it attained full independence from <a href="/facts/France/CxIeIKM3">France</a>.
In 1975, the country was renamed <a href="/facts/Benin/G98jPhND">Benin</a> after the <a href="/facts/Bight_of_Benin/7YtgkxH9">Bight of Benin</a> (which was in turn named after the <a href="/facts/Kingdom_of_Benin/LYUlrfVf">Kingdom of Benin</a> which had its seat of power in <a href="/facts/Benin_City/rvm1QCh0">Benin City</a>, modern-day <a href="/facts/Nigeria/gbW17BX8">Nigeria</a>), since "Benin" was deemed politically neutral for <a href="/facts/Demographics_of_Benin/8JPK9cNM">all ethnic groups in the state</a>, whereas "Dahomey" recalled the <a href="/facts/Fon_people/YBFscxBJ">Fon</a>-dominated <a href="/facts/Dahomey/bxxEr2RJ">Kingdom of Dahomey</a>.

Republic of Dahomey open-in-new

Republic of Dahomey