a republic in W Africa, on the Bight of Benin, a section of the Gulf of Guinea: in the early 19th century a powerful kingdom, famed for its women warriors; became a French colony in 1893, gaining independence in 1960. It consists chiefly of coastal lagoons and swamps in the south, a fertile plain and marshes in the centre, and the Atakora Mountains in the northwest. Official language: French. Religion: Christianity, Islam, and animist. Currency: franc. Capital: Porto-Novo (the government is based in Cotonou). Pop: 11 175 692 (2017 est). Area: 112 622 sq km (43 474 sq miles)

a former kingdom of W Africa, powerful from the 14th to the 17th centuries: now a province of S Nigeria: noted for its bronzes