Tchaourou
Encyclopedia
Tchaourou is a commune, arrondissement
, and city located in the Borgou Department
of Benin
, a country in Western Africa, formerly known as Dahomey
(until 1975). It is the birthplace of current Beninese president Yayi Boni
. It is 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Parakou
.
The commune covers an area of 7256 square kilometres and as of 2002 had a population of 106,852 people.
Tchaourou is one of the largest municipalities in the Department of Benin Borgou. It is home to people of various ethnic groups, mainly Nagot, Bariba
and Fulani peoples. Tchaourou is a mainly agricultural town. However, illegal activities in the sale of fuel have developed in the region, given its proximity to its major oil neighbor, Nigeria
. The current mayor is Soulé Biyaou Abou.
Tchaourou was once one of the most popular among the Fulani from the north of the country. As a result of the seasonal migration, however, several fodder trees such as Khaya senegalensis and Afzelia africana, which were common, are now very rare in the town. The disappearance of valuable species of trees, is caused by a combination of slash-and-burn shifting cultivation
and exploitation of wood. Deforestation is very common, particularly logging for tree bark used in traditional medicines made by the Fulani herdsmen.
, Fula
, Yoruba
, Otamari and Yom Lokpa.
Arrondissements of Benin
The Arrondissements of Benin refer to the third-level administrative units of Benin, after Departments and communes. In turn they contain villages and may often have several quartiers or city districts/urban neighborhoods:...
, and city located in 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....
of 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...
, a country in Western Africa, formerly known as Dahomey
Dahomey
Dahomey was a country in west Africa in what is now the Republic of Benin. The Kingdom of Dahomey was a powerful west African state that was founded in the seventeenth century and survived until 1894. From 1894 until 1960 Dahomey was a part of French West Africa. The independent Republic of Dahomey...
(until 1975). It is the birthplace of current Beninese president Yayi Boni
Yayi Boni
Dr. Thomas Yayi Boni , a Beninese banker and politician, is the current President of Benin. He took office on 6 April 2006 after winning elections held in the previous month.-Biography:...
. It is 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Parakou
Parakou
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.-Economy:Parakou lies on the main...
.
The commune covers an area of 7256 square kilometres and as of 2002 had a population of 106,852 people.
Tchaourou is one of the largest municipalities in the Department of Benin Borgou. It is home to people of various ethnic groups, mainly Nagot, 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...
and Fulani peoples. Tchaourou is a mainly agricultural town. However, illegal activities in the sale of fuel have developed in the region, given its proximity to its major oil neighbor, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. The current mayor is Soulé Biyaou Abou.
Tchaourou was once one of the most popular among the Fulani from the north of the country. As a result of the seasonal migration, however, several fodder trees such as Khaya senegalensis and Afzelia africana, which were common, are now very rare in the town. The disappearance of valuable species of trees, is caused by a combination of slash-and-burn shifting cultivation
Shifting cultivation
Shifting cultivation is an agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned. This system often involves clearing of a piece of land followed by several years of wood harvesting or farming, until the soil loses fertility...
and exploitation of wood. Deforestation is very common, particularly logging for tree bark used in traditional medicines made by the Fulani herdsmen.
Demographics
The main languages of Tchaourou are BaribaBariba
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...
, Fula
Fula language
The Fula or Fulani language is a language of West Africa. It is spoken as a first language by the and related groups from Senegambia and Guinea to Cameroon and Sudan...
, Yoruba
Yoruba language
Yorùbá is a Niger–Congo language spoken in West Africa by approximately 20 million speakers. The native tongue of the Yoruba people, it is spoken, among other languages, in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo and in communities in other parts of Africa, Europe and the Americas...
, Otamari and Yom Lokpa.
Administration
The commune is divided administratively into 7 arrondissements, in 5 quarters and 31 villages.| Arrondissements | Quartiers & villages |
|---|---|
| Tchaourou | Tchalla, Oke Legba |
| Alafiarou Alafiarou Alafiarou is a town and arrondissement located in the commune of Tchaourou in the Borgou Department of Benin.... |
|
| Bétérou Bétérou Bétérou is a town and arrondissement located in the Borgou Department of central Benin. As of 2009 it had an estimated population of 15,236.... |
|
| Goro | |
| Kika Kika, Benin Kika is a town and arrondissement in the Borgou Department of Benin. It is an administrative division under the jurisdiction of the commune of Tchaourou. According to the population census conducted by the Institut National de la Statistique Benin on February 15, 2002, the arrondissement had a... |
|
| Sanson Sanson, Benin Sanson is a town and arrondissement in the Borgou Department of Benin. It is an administrative division under the jurisdiction of the commune of Tchaourou. According to the population census conducted by the Institut National de la Statistique Benin on February 15, 2002, the arrondissement had a... |
|
| Tchatchou Tchatchou Tchatchou is a town and arrondissement located in the commune of Tchaourou in the Borgou Department of Benin.... |