Natitingou
Encyclopedia
Natitingou is a city and commune
in north western Benin
. It is about 50 km from Benin's Pendjari National Park
, where tourists can see West African wildlife during the months of December through June. The Falls of Tanougou and great mud castles of the Betammaribe known as Tata Somba are all within an hour or two of the town by car.
The commune covers an area of 3045 square kilometres and as of 2002 had a population of 75,620 people.
, Nateni, Fulani
, Fon
, and many other ethnic groups. The region takes its name from the word Nantibatingou, the Waama root "Nanto" refers to "crush" as the local people were renowned growers and processor of sorghum which was native to the area and later millet.
Natitingou is evenly divided between Christians and Muslims and, like the rest of Benin, is notable for its ethnic and religious tolerance.
The mountains surrounding the region to the east and west sides are important in local animist beliefs and believed to be inhabited by spirits. Certain people subscribe to the idea that during the evening these spirits , emit sounds similar to those produced by stones which women uses to crush cereal grains. Adherents do not crush cereals in the evening, so as not to confuse the two sounds.
White missionaries visited Natitingou in the 19th century and early 20th century.
The town of Natitingou belongs to the Department of Atacora in northwestern Benin. It lies in a semi-valley, formed by the two mountain ridges that surround it. Natitingou is located 645 km from the economic capital of Cotonou
and 100 km from Porga
at the entrance of the Pendjari National Park
. The commune is bounded on the north by Toucountouna
, south and east by Kouandé
and to the west by the commune of Boukombé.
The climate in Natitingou is drier than in the south, particularly during the Harmattan
season in December/January, when humidity can be as low as 10% and night temperatures can be as low as 17 degrees Celsius.
, Natitingou II
, Natitingou III
and Natitingou IV (Péporiyakou)
and five of them rural:Kotapounga
, Kouaba
, Koundata
, Perma
and Tchoumi-Tchoumi
. They contain 39 villages and 26 urban districts.
A multitude of ethnic people of the commune exists with a variety of languages. The main ethnic groups are the Ditammari, Waama and Dendi
. Outside the animist
religion, Christianity
and Islam
are practiced religions and there are a number of churches and mosques in the area. However, many Christians and Muslims often simultaneoudly believe in animist practices and join in in traditional events in Natitingou.
Agriculture is the backbone to the rural economy, and farmers produce sorghum
, maize
, yams
and, more recently, cotton
as a commercial product. The manufacture and marketing of the local drink known as Tchoucoutou is also very important, and is produced by housewives and is their main source of income. The drink is sold to nightclubs where there are many consumers. Tchoucoutou is made from the grain sorghum
and is a form of malt beer.
Men's Basketball player Mouphtau Yarou is a native of Natitingou. He was ranked #9 among 2009 High School basketball prospects in America.
Charles Thiebaut, a promoter of African music and culture in France, is a native of Natitingou. He grew up in an orphanage and was adopted by the Thiebaut family from France, when he was 4 years old.
Communes of Benin
The departments of Benin are subdivided into 77 communes, which in turn are divided into arrondissements and finally into villages or city districts. Prior to 1999 provinces were broken down into 84 districts, titled either urban or rural...
in north western Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
. It is about 50 km from Benin's Pendjari National Park
Pendjari National Park
The Pendjari National Park lies in north western Benin, adjoining the Arli National Park in Burkina Faso. Named for the Pendjari River, the national park is known for its wildlife and his home to some of the last populations of big game like elephants, West African lions, hippopotamuses, buffalo...
, where tourists can see West African wildlife during the months of December through June. The Falls of Tanougou and great mud castles of the Betammaribe known as Tata Somba are all within an hour or two of the town by car.
The commune covers an area of 3045 square kilometres and as of 2002 had a population of 75,620 people.
History
The town was founded by the Waama ethnic groups but is populated with Ditammari, DendiDendi
Dendi is the name of several African-related subjects:* Dendi Kingdom* Dendi is a district or woreda in Ethiopia;* Mount Dendi, also in Ethiopia;* Dendi people is one of the ethnic groups living in Benin and Niger;...
, Nateni, Fulani
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
, Fon
Fon people
The Fon people, or Fon nu, are a major West African ethnic and linguistic group in the country of Benin, and southwest Nigeria, made up of more than 3,500,000 people. The Fon language is the main language spoken in Southern Benin, and is a member of the Gbe language group...
, and many other ethnic groups. The region takes its name from the word Nantibatingou, the Waama root "Nanto" refers to "crush" as the local people were renowned growers and processor of sorghum which was native to the area and later millet.
Natitingou is evenly divided between Christians and Muslims and, like the rest of Benin, is notable for its ethnic and religious tolerance.
The mountains surrounding the region to the east and west sides are important in local animist beliefs and believed to be inhabited by spirits. Certain people subscribe to the idea that during the evening these spirits , emit sounds similar to those produced by stones which women uses to crush cereal grains. Adherents do not crush cereals in the evening, so as not to confuse the two sounds.
White missionaries visited Natitingou in the 19th century and early 20th century.
Geography
Cotonou
-Demographics:*1979: 320,348 *1992: 536,827 *2002: 665,100 *2005: 690,584 The main languages spoken in Cotonou include the Fon language, Aja language, Yoruba language and French.-Transport:...
and 100 km from Porga
Porga
Porga is a town located in the Atakora Department of Benin.The Porga Airport serves Porga....
at the entrance of the Pendjari National Park
Pendjari National Park
The Pendjari National Park lies in north western Benin, adjoining the Arli National Park in Burkina Faso. Named for the Pendjari River, the national park is known for its wildlife and his home to some of the last populations of big game like elephants, West African lions, hippopotamuses, buffalo...
. The commune is bounded on the north by Toucountouna
Toucountouna
Toucountouna is a town, arrondissement and commune in the Atakora Department of north-western Benin. The commune covers an area of 1600 square kilometres and as of 2002 had a population of 30,154 people.-References:...
, south and east by Kouandé
Kouandé
Kouandé is a town, arrondissement and commune, located in the Atakora Department of Benin.The commune covers an area of 4500 square kilometres and as of 2002 had a population of 80,261 people. The main town had an estimated 7,127 people in 2008....
and to the west by the commune of Boukombé.
The climate in Natitingou is drier than in the south, particularly during the Harmattan
Harmattan
The Harmattan is a dry and dusty West African trade wind. It blows south from the Sahara into the Gulf of Guinea between the end of November and the middle of March...
season in December/January, when humidity can be as low as 10% and night temperatures can be as low as 17 degrees Celsius.
Administrative divisions
Natitingou is subdivided into 9 arrondissements; four of them urban: Natitingou INatitingou I
Natitingou I is an arrondissement in the Atakora Department of northwestern Benin. It is an administrative division under the jurisdiction of the commune of Natitingou, and makes up part of the urban area. According to the population census conducted by the Institut National de la Statistique...
, Natitingou II
Natitingou II
Natitingou II is an arrondissement in the Atakora Department of northwestern Benin. It is an administrative division under the jurisdiction of the commune of Natitingou, and makes up part of the urban area. According to the population census conducted by the Institut National de la Statistique...
, Natitingou III
Natitingou III
Natitingou III is an arrondissement in the Atakora Department of northwestern Benin. It is an administrative division under the jurisdiction of the commune of Natitingou, and makes up part of the urban area. According to the population census conducted by the Institut National de la Statistique...
and Natitingou IV (Péporiyakou)
Natitingou IV (Péporiyakou)
Natitingou IV or Péporiyakou is an arrondissement in the Atakora Department of northwestern Benin. It is an administrative division under the jurisdiction of the commune of Natitingou, and makes up part of the urban area...
and five of them rural:Kotapounga
Kotapounga
Kotapounga is a town and arrondissement in the Atakora Department of northwestern Benin. It is an administrative division under the jurisdiction of the commune of Natitingou. According to the population census conducted by the Institut National de la Statistique Benin on February 15, 2002, the...
, Kouaba
Kouaba
Kouaba is a town and arrondissement in the Atakora Department of northwestern Benin. It is an administrative division under the jurisdiction of the commune of Natitingou. According to the population census conducted by the Institut National de la Statistique Benin on February 15, 2002, the...
, Koundata
Koundata
Koundata is a town and arrondissement in the Atakora Department of northwestern Benin. It is an administrative division under the jurisdiction of the commune of Natitingou. According to the population census conducted by the Institut National de la Statistique Benin on February 15, 2002, the...
, Perma
Perma
Perma is a town and arrondissement in the Atakora Department of northwestern Benin. It is an administrative division under the jurisdiction of the commune of Natitingou. According to the population census conducted by the Institut National de la Statistique Benin on February 15, 2002, the...
and Tchoumi-Tchoumi
Tchoumi-Tchoumi
Tchoumi-Tchoumi is a town and arrondissement in the Atakora Department of northwestern Benin. It is an administrative division under the jurisdiction of the commune of Natitingou. According to the population census conducted by the Institut National de la Statistique Benin on February 15, 2002,...
. They contain 39 villages and 26 urban districts.
Demographics
The commune has a population of 75,620 inhabitants according to the 2002 census (57,153 in 1992) with 37,388 men and 38,223 women. The density is 56 inhabitants per km ². The population is predominantly young.A multitude of ethnic people of the commune exists with a variety of languages. The main ethnic groups are the Ditammari, Waama and Dendi
Dendi
Dendi is the name of several African-related subjects:* Dendi Kingdom* Dendi is a district or woreda in Ethiopia;* Mount Dendi, also in Ethiopia;* Dendi people is one of the ethnic groups living in Benin and Niger;...
. Outside the animist
Animism
Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle....
religion, Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
are practiced religions and there are a number of churches and mosques in the area. However, many Christians and Muslims often simultaneoudly believe in animist practices and join in in traditional events in Natitingou.
Economy
People in the urban districts of Natitingou are mostly civil servants, craftsmen and merchants. Natitingou has an important administrative function and has some of the most important administrative bodies and services in the Atakora Department.Agriculture is the backbone to the rural economy, and farmers produce sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
, maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, yams
Yam (vegetable)
Yam is the common name for some species in the genus Dioscorea . These are perennial herbaceous vines cultivated for the consumption of their starchy tubers in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania...
and, more recently, cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
as a commercial product. The manufacture and marketing of the local drink known as Tchoucoutou is also very important, and is produced by housewives and is their main source of income. The drink is sold to nightclubs where there are many consumers. Tchoucoutou is made from the grain sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
and is a form of malt beer.
Notable people
Villanova UniversityVillanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
Men's Basketball player Mouphtau Yarou is a native of Natitingou. He was ranked #9 among 2009 High School basketball prospects in America.
Charles Thiebaut, a promoter of African music and culture in France, is a native of Natitingou. He grew up in an orphanage and was adopted by the Thiebaut family from France, when he was 4 years old.