Parakou
Encyclopedia
Parakou is the largest city in eastern Benin
, with an estimated population of around 188,853 people, and capital of the Borgou Department
. The mayor as of 2008 was Samou Seidou Adambi
and administratively the commune of Parakou makes up one of Benin's 77 communes.
and at the end of a railway to Cotonou
. This has made it an important market town
, with major industries in cotton and textiles, peanut
oil manufacture and brewing
. The town grew initially from revenue generated from passing merchants that took goods from the region across the Sahara
and the Mediterranean to Europe
. It also served as an important stop over in the distribution of goods around Africa. As a result Parakou became well-known in the slave trade. Later traders concentrated on cotton
and Parakou remains the hub of the Beninese cotton trade to this day, with considerable interest from Europe.
There are several markets trading, notably the largest, "Grand Marché Azeke" which one of the largest in Benin, an international market spanning over a block. The Grand Marché Azeke has a large covered hall overlapping onto the streets with stalls, with 500 and 1000 vendors. The market sells an enormous range of goods from items of pottery
including vases and bowls, to cotton textiles, cassettes and CD's of local and international artists, local spices, fruits and wagasi
(cow's milk cheese) and even food and kitchen utensils. Another market, located several blocks north, is called the "Marché Kobo Kobo", which lies across the street from the French Cultural Centre. Marché Kobo Kobo is known for its clothing retailing, primarily second hand goods and in one section of it, sells livestock. The Marché Depot is located near Parakou Railway Station around numerous hotels and sells mostly food but also calabashes and baskets. There is also the smaller Marché Guema, located next to Guema Church on the northern road to Malanville
in the Albarika quarter of the city. The market was founded by the Somba
tribe of the Atacora, and takes place every Sunday at 10am. The market consists of a collection of grass huts, and specialises in beef and pork and local millet beer
known as choukachou
or simply "chouk".
The name, Parakou, is derived from a Dendi
word meaning "La Ville de Tout le Monde" which literally means "the city of everyone", named for the city's diversity of ethnicities. As a market town frequently attracting many people as a stop off point in trading Parakou is by far the most ethnically diverse city in Benin including Bariba
, Dendi, Somba
, Fon
, Gun, Mina, Dita Mari, Berba, Djerma
, Ibo
, Yoruba
, Nagot, Hausa
, Kabrais, Warma, Fula
, and Tuareg.
In 1979 the city was reported as having 60,915 people and according to the official census of 1992, Parakou had a population of 103,577. In the last 15–20 years the population of Parakou has nearly doubled with 148,451 recorded in 2002 and with current estimates of 188,853 as of 2009.
The centre of the city has a roundabout with a distinctive tall pink column emblazoned with the words in red encrypted vertically, "Parakou" . It is located in the central business district surrounding Parakou's banks and administrative buildings. The city has a park but it became extremely polluted with waste and was closed to the public for health concerns.
Important banks include the Eco Bank, Bank of Africa
and the Financial Bank
near Parkou's Le Logos Internet Cafe.
In the city centre there are also the administrative buildings for the government of the commune of Parakou, located opposite the Ministry of Culture, Art and Tourism (open Tuesdays to Saturdays) and Parakou library. Nearby is Parkou police station, post office and taxi/bus station. Up the road from the Bank of Africa there is also the Cinema le Borgou and further north along the road on the opposite side is the French consulate and Hotel les Routiers. The Hotel les Routiers has its own zoo
with alligator
s, turtles, warthog
s, a small gazelle
, and various birds and the hotel also has works of art for sale including carved wooden mask
s, wall-hangings and jewelry.
To the south-east of the city, east of the Grand Marché Azeke is a number of health facilities including the Pharmacie Albarika and Parakou Hospital near the Niger consulate. Approximately 1.5 kilometres away from this lies the Musée en Plein Air de Parakou
and Motel de Regal in the south.
To the west of the city centre are numerous motels including the Hotel les Triangles, Buffet Hotel and Motel Bravo etc which are surrounded by a number of travel facilities and Parakou Railway Station.
The Bataclan Nightclub opposite the Hotel Princesse is considered the centre for Parakou's nightlife, particularly at weekends and the nearby KMM club.
. The mayor of the commune and city as of 2008 is Samou Seidou Adambi
.
Amawihon
, Bakaga
, Bakounkparou
, Bakounourou
, Baperou
, Bereyadou
, Borarou
, Darou Kourarou
, Debregourou
, Dokparou
, Douerou
, Forane Kparou
, Gagbebou
, Ganou
, Ga Yakabou
, Gommboko
, Gorobani
, Gouforou
, Goutere
, Guema, Guererou
, Guinrerou
, Kaborokpo
, Kabro
, Karobouarou
, Kipare
, Konkoma
, Koumerou
, Kperou Guera
, Moundouro
, Nekinparo
, Nikikperou
, Ouroungourou
, Pepekino
, Pepepeterou
, Sanro
, Senouorou
, Sokoumeno
, Sokouno
, Sonoumo
, Sourou
, Suinrou, Tabayorourou
, Tankaro
, Tankaro Ga
, Teougourou Gando
, Tian
, Tinekonparou
, Tora, Tourou
, Wansirou
, Weria
, Wore
, Worora
, Yakassirou
There is a mosque
in Parakou reflecting a major following of Islam
which in fact around half the population follow. The mosque is noted for its fortress-like structure and turrets with dark red window panels. A significant number of the population are Roman Catholic, about a third of the inhabitants, and the city lies within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Parakou
. It was established on May 13, 1948 as the Apostolic Prefecture of Parakou from the Apostolic Prefecture of Niamey
, Niger
and from February 10, 1964 promoted as Diocese of Parakou. On October 16, 1997 it formally became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Parakou. The principal church is the Cathédrale Saints Pierre et Paul. The current archbishop is Fidèle Agbatchi
, who was appointed on April 14, 2004.
On February 4, 1993 Pope John Paul II visited the city and had a meeting with representatives of both the Roman Catholic Church and Islam at the "Center d'Alphabétisation Départemental du Borgou" and a mass was held in municipal stadium of Parakou.
Ahmadiya Muslim Community inaugrated a mosque in Quartier Titirou, Parakou in April 2004 by his Supreme Head Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib Khalifatoul Massih V.
Parakou Railway Station is the last railway station on the Parakou-Cotonou
railway. Both the national highways RNIE 2
and RNIE 6
pass through Parakou. The city is also served by Parakou Airport
. The government has proposed extending the railway to Dosso
in Niger
.
and Buffles du Borgou FC
which play in the Benin Premier League
, the highest division of Beninese football.
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...
, with an estimated population of around 188,853 people, and capital of the Borgou Department
Borgou Department
Borgou is one of the twelve departments of Benin. Borgou borders the country of Nigeria and the departments of Alibori, Atakora, Collines and Donga. The capital of Borgou is Parakou and the total area is 25,310 km.² or 9,772 mi.²....
. The mayor as of 2008 was Samou Seidou Adambi
Samou Seidou Adambi
Samou Seidou Adambi is a Beninese politician. He is currently serving as mayor of the commune and city of Parakou.-References:...
and administratively the commune of Parakou makes up one of Benin's 77 communes.
Economy
Parakou lies on the main north-south highway RNIE 2RNIE 2
RNIE 2 is a national highway of Benin. It is Benin's main north-south highway which runs the entire 785 km down the centre of the country from the Niger River to Cotonou. The RNIE 2 crosses the RNIE 4 at Bohicon east of Abomey.-External links:*...
and at the end of a railway to Cotonou
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:...
. This has made it an important market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
, with major industries in cotton and textiles, peanut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
oil manufacture and brewing
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
. The town grew initially from revenue generated from passing merchants that took goods from the region across the Sahara
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
and the Mediterranean to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It also served as an important stop over in the distribution of goods around Africa. As a result Parakou became well-known in the slave trade. Later traders concentrated on 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....
and Parakou remains the hub of the Beninese cotton trade to this day, with considerable interest from Europe.
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
including vases and bowls, to cotton textiles, cassettes and CD's of local and international artists, local spices, fruits and wagasi
Wagasi
Wagasi is a type of Beninese cows milk cheese. It is a speciality of northern Benin in Africa and is commonly made by the Fulani people. It is sold in abundance in cities such as Parakou....
(cow's milk cheese) and even food and kitchen utensils. Another market, located several blocks north, is called the "Marché Kobo Kobo", which lies across the street from the French Cultural Centre. Marché Kobo Kobo is known for its clothing retailing, primarily second hand goods and in one section of it, sells livestock. The Marché Depot is located near Parakou Railway Station around numerous hotels and sells mostly food but also calabashes and baskets. There is also the smaller Marché Guema, located next to Guema Church on the northern road to Malanville
Malanville
Malanville is a city, arrondissement and commune in the Alibori Department of northeastern Benin, located across the River Niger from Niger. It is known as a centre of cross-border trade and has a major market. Malanville is also a centre for rice-growing. The commune covers an area of 3016 square...
in the Albarika quarter of the city. The market was founded by the Somba
Somba (ethnic group)
The Somba are a major ethnic group inhabiting primarily north-eastern Benin. The name is a generic term for the Betammaribe and related peoples, who make up about one-twelfth of Benin’s population. They are especially found in towns such as Nikki and Kandi that were once Bariba kingdoms and in...
tribe of the Atacora, and takes place every Sunday at 10am. The market consists of a collection of grass huts, and specialises in beef and pork and local millet beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
known as choukachou
Choukachou
Choukachou or chouk is a Beninese millet beer.It is widely consumed in northern Benin and the city of Parakou is an important centre for brewing. The beer is transported to southern Benin, Cotonou etc via the railway or road....
or simply "chouk".
Demographics
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;...
word meaning "La Ville de Tout le Monde" which literally means "the city of everyone", named for the city's diversity of ethnicities. As a market town frequently attracting many people as a stop off point in trading Parakou is by far the most ethnically diverse city in Benin including Bariba
Bariba
The Bariba people, self designation Baatonu , are the principal inhabitants of Borgou Department, Benin, and cofounders of the Borgu kingdom of what is now northeast Benin and northwest Nigeria. There are perhaps a million Bariba, 80% of them in Benin, where they are the fourth largest ethnic group...
, Dendi, Somba
Somba (ethnic group)
The Somba are a major ethnic group inhabiting primarily north-eastern Benin. The name is a generic term for the Betammaribe and related peoples, who make up about one-twelfth of Benin’s population. They are especially found in towns such as Nikki and Kandi that were once Bariba kingdoms and in...
, 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...
, Gun, Mina, Dita Mari, Berba, Djerma
Djerma
The Zarma people , are a people of westernmost Niger and adjacent areas of Burkina Faso, Benin, Ghana and Nigeria. The Zarma language is one of the Songhai languages, a branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family...
, Ibo
Ibo
-Alternate spelling:*Ibo or Igbo people, an ethnic group based in West Africa*Ibo or Igbo language, the language of the Igbo people-Abbreviation:IBO can stand for:* Intellectual Property Business Organization...
, Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
, Nagot, Hausa
Hausa people
The Hausa are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. They are a Sahelian people chiefly located in northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger, but having significant numbers living in regions of Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Chad and Sudan...
, Kabrais, Warma, Fula
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...
, and Tuareg.
In 1979 the city was reported as having 60,915 people and according to the official census of 1992, Parakou had a population of 103,577. In the last 15–20 years the population of Parakou has nearly doubled with 148,451 recorded in 2002 and with current estimates of 188,853 as of 2009.
Cityscape
Important banks include the Eco Bank, Bank of Africa
Bank of Africa
Bank of Africa is a multinational bank in Africa. Its first office was founded in Bamako, Mali in 1982.-Branches and subsidiaries:Bank of Africa:*BOA Group*Banque de l'Habitat du Benin in Cotonou, Benin*BOA Burkina Faso*BOA Côte d'Ivoire...
and the Financial Bank
Financial Bank
Financial Bank is a bank of Benin. It is a member of the West African Bankers' Association.It has its headquarters based in Cotonou but also has branches in cities such as Parakou. The bank is dominated by Swiss ownership, with Financial BC in Geneva having an 85% share, Aiglon S.A...
near Parkou's Le Logos Internet Cafe.
In the city centre there are also the administrative buildings for the government of the commune of Parakou, located opposite the Ministry of Culture, Art and Tourism (open Tuesdays to Saturdays) and Parakou library. Nearby is Parkou police station, post office and taxi/bus station. Up the road from the Bank of Africa there is also the Cinema le Borgou and further north along the road on the opposite side is the French consulate and Hotel les Routiers. The Hotel les Routiers has its own zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
with alligator
Alligator
An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....
s, turtles, warthog
Warthog
The Warthog or Common Warthog is a wild member of the pig family that lives in grassland, savanna, and woodland in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the past it was commonly treated as a subspecies of P...
s, a small gazelle
Gazelle
A gazelle is any of many antelope species in the genus Gazella, or formerly considered to belong to it. Six species are included in two genera, Eudorcas and Nanger, which were formerly considered subgenera...
, and various birds and the hotel also has works of art for sale including carved wooden mask
Mask
A mask is an article normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance or entertainment. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes...
s, wall-hangings and jewelry.
Musée en Plein Air de Parakou
Musée en Plein Air de Parakou is a museum located approximately 1.5 kilometres south of the centre of the city Parakou, Benin in the suburbs. The museum consists of five circular complexes representing the traditional housing of the local Batanou peoples...
and Motel de Regal in the south.
To the west of the city centre are numerous motels including the Hotel les Triangles, Buffet Hotel and Motel Bravo etc which are surrounded by a number of travel facilities and Parakou Railway Station.
The Bataclan Nightclub opposite the Hotel Princesse is considered the centre for Parakou's nightlife, particularly at weekends and the nearby KMM club.
Administration
Parakou is one of the 77 official communes of BeninCommunes 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...
. The mayor of the commune and city as of 2008 is Samou Seidou Adambi
Samou Seidou Adambi
Samou Seidou Adambi is a Beninese politician. He is currently serving as mayor of the commune and city of Parakou.-References:...
.
Villages
The commune of Parakou contains the following villages:Amawihon
Amawihon
Amawihon is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north of the city centre.-External links:*...
, Bakaga
Bakaga
Bakaga is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south-east of the city centre.-External links:*...
, Bakounkparou
Bakounkparou
Bakounkparou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north-west of the city centre.-External links:*...
, Bakounourou
Bakounourou
Bakounourou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south of the city centre.-External links:*...
, Baperou
Baperou
Baperou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south-west of the city centre on the RNIE 2 highway.-External links:*...
, Bereyadou
Bereyadou
Bereyadou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south-west of the city centre on the RNIE 2 highway.-External links:*...
, Borarou
Borarou
Borarou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south-west of the city centre.-External links:*...
, Darou Kourarou
Darou Kourarou
Darou Kourarou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north-west of the city centre.-External links:*...
, Debregourou
Debregourou
Debregourou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north of the city centre on the RNIE 2 highway.-External links:*...
, Dokparou
Dokparou
Dokparou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north-east of the city centre.-External links:*...
, Douerou
Douerou
Douerou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south-west of the city centre.-External links:*...
, Forane Kparou
Forane Kparou
Forane Kparou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north-west of the city centre.-External links:*...
, Gagbebou
Gagbebou
Gagbebou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north-west of the city centre.-External links:*...
, Ganou
Ganou
Ganou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north of the city centre.-External links:*...
, Ga Yakabou
Ga Yakabou
Ga Yakabou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north-west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Gommboko
Gommboko
Gommboko is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Gorobani
Gorobani
Gorobani is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Gouforou
Gouforou
Gouforou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Goutere
Goutere
Goutere is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south-east of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Guema, Guererou
Guérérou
Guérérou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north-west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Guinrerou
Guinrerou
Guinrerou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located west of Parakou city centre along the RNIE 6 road.-External links:*...
, Kaborokpo
Kaborokpo
Kaborokpo is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Kabro
Kabro
Kabro is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Karobouarou
Karobouarou
Karobouarou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north-east of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Kipare
Kiparé
Kiparé is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Konkoma
Konkoma
Konkoma is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located east of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Koumerou
Koumerou
Koumerou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Kperou Guera
Kperou Guera
Kperou Guera is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north-west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Moundouro
Moundouro
Moundouro is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Nekinparo
Nekinparo
Nekinparo is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south of Parakou city centre along the RNIE 2 highway.-External links:*...
, Nikikperou
Nikikperou
Nikikperou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north-west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Ouroungourou
Ouroungourou
Ouroungourou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north-west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Pepekino
Pepekino
Pepekino is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located east of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Pepepeterou
Pépépétérou
Pépépétérou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south-west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Sanro
Sanro
Sanro is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Senouorou
Senouorou
Senouorou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north-east of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Sokoumeno
Sokoumeno
Sokoumeno is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Sokouno
Sokouno
Sokouno is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south-east of Parakou city centre on the RNIE 6 road.-External links:*...
, Sonoumo
Sonoumo
Sonoumo is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Sourou
Sourou, Benin
Sourou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Suinrou, Tabayorourou
Tabayorourou
Tabayorourou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south-west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Tankaro
Tankaro
Tankaro is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Tankaro Ga
Tankaro Ga
Tankaro Ga is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Teougourou Gando
Teougourou Gando
Teougourou Gando is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located south-west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Tian
Tian, Benin
Tian is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north-west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Tinekonparou
Tinekonparou
Tinekonparou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located east of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Tora, Tourou
Tourou
For the Japanese stone lantern, see tōrō. Tourou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located west of Parakou city centre on the RNIE 6 highway.-External links:*...
, Wansirou
Wansirou
Wansirou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Weria
Weria
Weria is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located east of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Wore
Wore, Benin
Wore is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located north of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
, Worora
Worora
Worora is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located west of Parakou city centre along the RNIE 6 highway.-External links:*...
, Yakassirou
Yakassirou
Yakassirou is a village in the commune of Parakou in the Borgou Department of central-eastern Benin. It is located west of Parakou city centre.-External links:*...
Religion
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
in Parakou reflecting a major following of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
which in fact around half the population follow. The mosque is noted for its fortress-like structure and turrets with dark red window panels. A significant number of the population are Roman Catholic, about a third of the inhabitants, and the city lies within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Parakou
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Parakou
The Archdiocese of Parakou is the Metropolitan See for the Ecclesiastical province of Parakou in Benin.-History:* 1948.05.13: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Parakou from the Apostolic Prefecture of Niamey, Niger...
. It was established on May 13, 1948 as the Apostolic Prefecture of Parakou from the Apostolic Prefecture of Niamey
Niamey
-Population:While Niamey's population has grown steadily since independence, the droughts of the early 1970s and 1980s, along with the economic crisis of the early 1980s, have propelled an exodus of rural inhabitants to Niger's largest city...
, Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
and from February 10, 1964 promoted as Diocese of Parakou. On October 16, 1997 it formally became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Parakou. The principal church is the Cathédrale Saints Pierre et Paul. The current archbishop is Fidèle Agbatchi
Fidèle Agbatchi
Fidèle Agbatchi is a retired Beninese Roman Catholic archbishop.He was ordained as a priest on January 7, 1978 and on June 10, 2000 was appointed Archbishop of Parakou, and was ordained on April 14, 2004 beginning his term. He served the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Parakou from his seat in St....
, who was appointed on April 14, 2004.
On February 4, 1993 Pope John Paul II visited the city and had a meeting with representatives of both the Roman Catholic Church and Islam at the "Center d'Alphabétisation Départemental du Borgou" and a mass was held in municipal stadium of Parakou.
Ahmadiya Muslim Community inaugrated a mosque in Quartier Titirou, Parakou in April 2004 by his Supreme Head Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib Khalifatoul Massih V.
Transport
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:...
railway. Both the national highways RNIE 2
RNIE 2
RNIE 2 is a national highway of Benin. It is Benin's main north-south highway which runs the entire 785 km down the centre of the country from the Niger River to Cotonou. The RNIE 2 crosses the RNIE 4 at Bohicon east of Abomey.-External links:*...
and RNIE 6
RNIE 6
RNIE 6 is a national highway of Benin located in the east of the country.-External links:*...
pass through Parakou. The city is also served by Parakou Airport
Parakou Airport
Parakou Airport is an airport serving Parakou in Benin....
. The government has proposed extending the railway to Dosso
Dosso
Dosso might refer to either:*Dosso in Niger:**Dosso Region, a region in Niger**Dosso , a département in Niger**Dosso, Niger, a town, capital of the Dosso département**Dosso Kingdom, the pre-colonial and modern ceremonial power in Dosso....
in Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
.
Sport
The main football clubs are Dynamo Unacob FC de ParakouDynamo Unacob FC de Parakou
Dynamo Unacob FC de Parakou are a Beninese football club based in Parakou. They currently play in the Benin Premier League for season 2010.- Current Players 2010 :...
and Buffles du Borgou FC
Buffles du Borgou FC
Buffles du Borgou FC are a Beninese football club based in Parakou. They currently play in the Benin Premier League.-Current Players 2009/10:-Achievements:*Benin Premier League: 3*Benin Cup: 3-Performance in CAF competitions:...
which play in the Benin Premier League
Benin Premier League
The Benin Premier League, also called Championnat National du Bénin in French, is the highest football division in Benin. The league was delivered in 1969 for the first time. Currently, it is composed by 14 clubs playing a double round-robin tournament. The winner of the Premier League earns a...
, the highest division of Beninese football.