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This quiz isn’t even that hard. If you don’t get everything, there’s a problem.
The Republic of Benin, Nigeria’s next-door neighbour (or sister from another Mother), may be a small country, but there is a lot to experience and discover on a trip there. You have to know where to look and where to go, though. We know (obvs, because we’re plugged into the biggest cultural event right now AKA Jollof Road) so we compiled some of the places that will be well worth your time into an article.
What are we, if not nice?
Because you are still fresh and your point of entry will be Cotonou, anyway, you should start your waka from Dantokpa. It is the biggest open air market in West-Africa, which means the biggest market in your town has nothing on it.
You don’t have to look for anything – that’s where the fun is. Just walk around and take in the atmosphere. Talk to the locals, buy stuff, eat the food, and have fun. Don’t be surprised if you hear the familiar Nigerian accent or music blaring from speakers. If you are lucky, you might find someone breaking into zanku that is light-years better than your best attempt. Naija don blow.
You probably have heard that Ganvié is the West African equivalent of Venice, but let go of that thought; it is another display of white people’s ignorance about the continent, or anything, really, and their hard-on for imposing their experience on others. If we are really bent on comparison, the next best place to compare this place of water to is Makoko – yes, the one in Lagos. Think of Makoko, but way less shitty. Like Makoko, fishing is like the major occupation the community thrives on.
Fun fact: Ganvie and Makoko share the coastline, and if you are in for an adventure, hop on a boat across the coastline and you will get to Makoko in about a day and half.
However, it is still not Makoko. Ganvié is a tourist spot, and you are bound to lose yourself in all the goodness it has to offer.
We understand that you want to have as much fun as humanly possible, but you could also set out time for some sober reflection.
Slavery is an important part of African history. Its relics are everywhere across the continent – monuments and structures confirming the exact kind of asshole man can be.
The Door of No Return is exactly what it means. It was the point where every man captured in the transatlantic slave trade knew they were never going back home. It’s the place where they took their last breath as free men and women. It is where every bit of their identity was forcibly taken away from them.
Yes. It is an historical and sentimental site. You should make time out to visit the monument.
This should be your next stop after the Door of no Return because they are within the same proximity.
Heh, how do the wriggling creatures make you feel? Because this is the perfect time to lose all your fears of snakes. We grow, right? The Pythons Temple is a scared place of sorts. No one fears the creatures here; they worship and revere them. There is a hut housing multitudes of pythons. Now, that’s what you want to see. They have no fangs, nor do they have any interest in hurting you. So, be a dear, put one across your neck and smile for the camera.
This is a no-brainer. LOL. Benin is a coastal country with many amazing beaches. Find one, or two, or as many as you like and just chill.
Now you have your perfect holiday in Benin Republic. No need to thank us, that’s why we’re here for you. And oh, by the way, we think you deserve something good, so this is a reminder of sorts: some cool people from Zikoko are on the journey of a lifetime. They’re travelling through 14 countries in West Africa, collecting stories as they go. You can follow them and catch up on what they are up to on Jollofroad.com. You can also catch up on what they are up to on the Zikoko socials.
Your first taste in music and your overall music experience while growing up was probably defined and influenced by your parents’ taste in music. My parents had a huge catalogue of Yoruba music in their rich and different variations; mostly Sakara, Apala, Fuji, and Juju. I mean, an entire section of my dad’s catalogue of Yoruba music is a massive collection of these CDs and Cassettes. I wonder how much they are worth at the moment.
It’s interesting that when I think about the music in this category, I think about them with fondness, when as a child, I would rather listen to something else. It’s only now that I realise how iconic these musicians and their work is. I can’t go back to the car drives with my dad where all he played was fuij and juju music, but thanks to music streaming platforms, I can always re-live some of these moments in my head.
If your parents are anything like mine, you should know these people, and the epic work that they did. I have to confess; the list is made up of my personal favorites — there are scores of others I’m leaving out. Oh, I almost forgot to add. If you were born later than the late 90s, chances are that you missed out on this experience. Sad, I know.
His brand of music was the Sakara genre and he is the GOAT. If you are all about the sweet boy life, then Baba Legba (as he was fondly known) is for you. His music is perfect for an weekend, evening car spin. Increase the volume of your speakers, nod your head to the rhythm, and whistle in sync with the lyrics as if you have no care in the world.
His father, Haruna Ishola popularized the Apala genre and is considered one of the greatest to run in the Apala game. The genre, however, lost much of its appeal until Musiliu Haruna Ishola came into the fold and spearheaded the resurgence of the genre. His revitalisation attempts gave the genre a new vibe that appealed to the audience of that time. If you have any memory of this guy, his 2000 monster hit, Soyoyo should come to mind. I can’t think of a perfect description for the album, but I know it is the work of a guy marking his territory.
How can you be Yoruba or Nigerian and claim that you have never heard of the Fuji genre? Fuji is unarguably the most popular traditional Yoruba music in recent times; there are even different variations of it. Everybody keeps trying to add their own touch to it.
There is no way to ever forget the impact of Alhaji Agba, or doubt his relevance within this genre. The man released over 60 glorious albums before he died in 2010. Among the various bodies of work I was exposed to growing up, Fuji Garbage is my personal favorite. It’s music that should have its own dance (the way all music seems to have their own dance today).
