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Porto-Novo, from the Portuguese for "New Port" who built a trading post there in the 17th century as part of the slave trade, is located on the Porto-Novo lagoon in the Gulf of Guinea.
The small kingdom of Porto-Novo, one of many such kingdoms in present day
Benin, sought French protection in 1863 from the British who were operating
out of South Nigeria. However, shortly afterwards, the French were distracted
by the Franco Prussian War of 1871 which forced them to largely abandon its
interests in the area as its military headed back to France.
In 1883 the French navy
again landed at Porto-Novo to re-establish its hegemony in the
region despite ongoing warfare with kingdoms who refused to be
subjugated to colonial rule. The Kingdom of Porto-Novo was
incorporated into the newly formed French Dahomey and in 1900
became the colony's official capital with its former royal
Agasuvi dynasty allowed to retain the title of "Chef Superieur"
until the royal line ended in 1976 with the death of its last
king (Ahosu) Alohinto Gbeffa Tofa VI. Whilst he had a surviving
son, nominally Felix Araba Tofa VII, the position had by then
lapsed as Benin had become a republic in 1960.
Although Porto-Novo
remained as capital after independence as administrative centre
of the country, the president, judiciary and most government
ministers reside in the de facto capital of Cotonou,
Benin's economic centre, site of the nation's national
university and largest city. Today Porto-Novo with its
population of some 258 975 retains many colonial buildings
including its old Portuguese church ~ now a mosque ~ and
national archives. Also worth seeing are the former palace of
King Tofa VI now know as the Musee Honme and the Musee
Ethnographique de Porto Novo which explores Porto-Novo's royal
family.
Porto Novo Profile: Volunteer in Benin
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Porto Novo Profile: Porto Novo Map
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Porto Novo Profile: Child Sponsor Benin
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Porto Novo Profile: Benin Country Profile
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