Editing Parakou

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2016}}
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'''Parakou''' {{IPA|fr|pa.ʁa.ku|}} is the largest city in northern [[Benin]], and the [[List of cities in Benin|third-largest city]] in the country, with an estimated population of around 206,667 people, and capital of the [[Borgou Department]]. Administratively the commune of Parakou makes up one of Benin's 77 communes. {{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

== History ==
The city was founded in the 16th century by traders.<ref>Mathurin C. Houngnikpo, Samuel Decalo, ''Historical Dictionary of Benin'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2013, p. 281</ref> In the 18th century Parakou, like much of the surrounding region, came under the rule of princes from [[Nikki, Benin|Nikki]].{{sfn|Akinwumi|1999|p=219}}<ref name = Adekunle>{{cite journal |last1=Adekunle |first1=Julius |title=Borgu and Economic Transformation 1700-1900: The Wangara Factor |page = 10-11|journal=African Economic History |date=1994 |volume=22  |url= https://doi.org/10.2307/3601665 |access-date=19 March 2025}}</ref> The defeat of the Nikki-led invasion of [[Ilorin]] in 1837 and death of its king gave Parakou and the other vassals an opportunity to seize more control over trade and increase their political independence.{{sfn|Akinwumi|1999|p=219}} The [[Anglo-French Convention of 1898]] divided the [[Borgu]] federation in two. Parakou became the main administrative center of the half that was joined to [[French Dahomey]].{{sfn|Akinwumi|1999|p=220}} 

==Economy==
Parakou lies on the main north-south highway [[RNIE 2]] and at the end of a railway to [[Cotonou]].

=== Markets ===
This has made it an important [[market town]], with major industries including 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.<ref name="Bradt">Butler, Stuart (2019) ''Bradt Travel Guide - Benin'', pgs. 177-180</ref> Parakou later became well known in the [[History of slavery|slave trade]].<ref name="Bradt"/> Later traders concentrated on cotton and Parakou remains the hub of the Beninese cotton trade to this day, with considerable interest from Europe.<ref name="Bradt"/>
[[File:Parakouinternationalmarket.jpg|thumb|left|The Grand Marché Arzeke international market]]
There are several markets trading, notably the largest, Grand Marché Arzeke which one of the largest in Benin, an international market spanning over a block.<ref>{{Harvnb|Butler|2006|p=192}}.</ref> This market 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, gasaru/wagasi (cow's milk cheese) and kitchen utensils.<ref name="Tourism">{{cite web|url=http://www.benintourism.com/en/interne.php?idrub=2&id=12|title=Parakou|publisher=Benintourism.com|access-date=January 10, 2009}}</ref> Another market, located several blocks north, is called the "Marché Kobo Kobo", which lies across the street from the French Cultural Centre.<ref name="Bradt"/> Marché Kobo Kobo is known for its clothing retailing, primarily second hand goods, and in another section livestock.<ref name="Bradt"/> 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 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 (ethnic group)|Somba]] people of the [[Atacora]], and takes place every Sunday at 10&nbsp;am. 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".<ref name="Tourism"/>

{{clear}}

=== Inland Port ===
Parakou is the site of a proposed [[inland port]].<ref>[https://epinedorsale.com/EN/ Inland Port]</ref>

The dry port is a multi-modal platform located 3&nbsp;km from the centre of Parakou, close to the railway.  It gives the [[Backbone Project]] a strategic position for imports and exports to neighbouring countries, notably Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Togo.

==Demographics==
[[File:Parakouroundabout.jpg|thumb|left|A roundabout in Parakou]]
The name, Parakou, is derived from a Dendi word meaning "the city of everyone", named for the city's diversity of ethnicities.<ref name="Tourism"/> As a market town attracting many people as a trading and stop-off point, Parakou has a large mix of African ethnicities, including [[Fula people|Fula]], [[Dendi people|Dendi]], [[Somba (ethnic group)|Somba]], [[Fon people|Fon]], [[Gen language|Mina]], [[Bariba people|Bariba]], [[Zarma people|Djerma]], [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] (of the Nago tribe), [[Hausa people|Hausa]], [[Kabrais]], [[Warma people|Warma]],<ref>In {{langx|ff|Fulɓe}}; in {{langx|fr|link=no|Peul}} or {{lang|fr|Peulh}}.</ref> and [[Tuareg people|Tuareg]].<ref name="Tourism"/>

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 149,819 recorded in 2002 and with the most recent census in 2013, the population was 255,478.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gpro&lng=en&des=wg&geo=-35&srt=npan&col=abcdefghinoq&msz=1500&pt=c&va=&geo=357642262|title=Benin: largest cities and towns and statistics of their population|publisher=World Gazeteer|access-date=January 10, 2009|df=mdy-all}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==Climate==

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | metric first = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Parakou (1991–2020)
 | Jan high C = 35.0
 | Feb high C = 36.9
 | Mar high C = 37.4
 | Apr high C = 35.6
 | May high C = 33.3
 | Jun high C = 31.2
 | Jul high C = 29.7
 | Aug high C = 28.8
 | Sep high C = 30.0
 | Oct high C = 31.8
 | Nov high C = 34.6
 | Dec high C = 34.8
 | year high C = 33.3
 | Jan mean C = 27.5
 | Feb mean C = 29.6
 | Mar mean C = 30.7
 | Apr mean C = 29.7
 | May mean C = 28.2
 | Jun mean C = 26.7
 | Jul mean C = 25.7
 | Aug mean C = 25.2
 | Sep mean C = 25.7
 | Oct mean C = 26.8
 | Nov mean C = 28.0
 | Dec mean C = 27.4
 | year mean C = 27.6
 | Jan low C = 19.9
 | Feb low C = 22.3
 | Mar low C = 24.0
 | Apr low C = 23.8
 | May low C = 23.0
 | Jun low C = 22.1
 | Jul low C = 21.8
 | Aug low C = 21.5
 | Sep low C = 21.4
 | Oct low C = 21.7
 | Nov low C = 21.4
 | Dec low C = 20.0
 | year low C = 21.9
 | precipitation colour = green
 | Jan precipitation mm = 4.9
 | Feb precipitation mm = 8.0
 | Mar precipitation mm = 33.6
 | Apr precipitation mm = 83.2
 | May precipitation mm = 133.8
 | Jun precipitation mm = 157.5
 | Jul precipitation mm = 188.8
 | Aug precipitation mm = 212
 | Sep precipitation mm = 221.5
 | Oct precipitation mm = 111.9
 | Nov precipitation mm = 6.9
 | Dec precipitation mm = 1.9
 | year precipitation mm = 1164.0

 | unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
 | Jan precipitation days = 1
 | Feb precipitation days = 1
 | Mar precipitation days = 3
 | Apr precipitation days = 7
 | May precipitation days = 11
 | Jun precipitation days = 13
 | Jul precipitation days = 16
 | Aug precipitation days = 18
 | Sep precipitation days = 19
 | Oct precipitation days = 11
 | Nov precipitation days = 1
 | Dec precipitation days = 0
 | year precipitation days = 101
 | Jan humidity = 33.2
 | Feb humidity = 38.7
 | Mar humidity = 51.9
 | Apr humidity = 64.3
 | May humidity = 72.0
 | Jun humidity = 76.4
 | Jul humidity = 79.5
 | Aug humidity = 81.8
 | Sep humidity = 80.0
 | Oct humidity = 75.3
 | Nov humidity = 57.2
 | Dec humidity = 39.9
 | year humidity =

 | Jan sun = 251.5
 | Feb sun = 233.2
 | Mar sun = 234.8
 | Apr sun = 230.9
 | May sun = 229.1
 | Jun sun = 190.0
 | Jul sun = 144.8
 | Aug sun = 119.6
 | Sep sun = 148.7
 | Oct sun = 208.7
 | Nov sun = 250.2
 | Dec sun = 259.9
 | year sun = 2501.4
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="WMONormals">{{cite web
|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Benin/CSV/Parakou_65330.csv
|title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Parakou
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = January 4, 2024}}</ref>
}}

== Culture ==
[[File:Parakoupleinairmuseum.jpg|thumb|right|The Musée en Plein Air de Parakou]]
The city has a museum, the [[Musée en Plein Air de Parakou]].<ref name="Bradt"/>

[[Wagasi]] is a type of [[Cow cheese|cow’s cheese]] which is mainly made in Parakou

==Administration==
Parakou is one of the 77 official [[communes of Benin]]. The mayor of the commune and city as of 2008 is [[Samou Seidou Adambi]].{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

===Villages===
The commune of Parakou contains the following villages:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maplandia.com/benin/borgou/parakou/|title=Parakou|publisher=Maplandia World Gazetteer|access-date=January 11, 2009}}</ref>

[[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, Benin|Sourou]], [[Suinrou]], [[Tabayorourou]], [[Tankaro]], [[Tankaro Ga]], [[Teougourou Gando]], [[Tian, Benin|Tian]], [[Tinekonparou]], [[Tora, Benin|Tora]], [[Tourou]], [[Wansirou]], [[Weria]], [[Wore, Benin|Wore]], [[Worora]], [[Yakassirou]]

== Education ==
Parakou is home to one university, the University of Parakou, founded in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.up.bj/index.php?page=templates-and-stylesheets|title=Université de Parakou - Historique|access-date=2023-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828030204/http://www.up.bj/index.php?page=templates-and-stylesheets|archive-date=August 28, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Places of worship ==   
[[File:ParakouMosque.jpg|thumb|right|Parakou Mosque]]  
Among the [[places of worship]], most predominant are [[Islam|Muslim]] mosques.<ref>J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, ‘‘Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices’’, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 338</ref> There are also several [[Christianity|Christian]] denominations represented: [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Parakou]] ([[Catholic Church]]), [[Protestant Methodist Church in Benin]] ([[World Methodist Council]]), [[Union of Baptist Churches of Benin]] ([[Baptist World Alliance]]), [[Living Faith Church Worldwide]], [[Redeemed Christian Church of God]] and the [[Assemblies of God]].

==Transport==
[[File:Parakouroad.jpg|thumb|right|The [[RNIE 6]] road leading out of Parakou]]
Parakou Railway Station is the last railway station on the Parakou-[[Cotonou]] railway, however at present it is not open to passenger transportation.<ref name="Bradt"/> Both the national highways [[RNIE 2]] and [[RNIE 6]] pass through Parakou. The city is also served by [[Parakou Airport]].<ref name="Bradt"/> The government has proposed extending the railway to [[Dosso, Niger|Dosso]] in Niger.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2010/10/extending-from-benin-to-niger/
|access-date=2010-10-17
|title=EXTENDING FROM BENIN TO NIGER 
|publisher =  Railways Africa }}</ref>

==Sport==
The main football clubs are Dynamo Unacob FC de Parakou and [[Buffles du Borgou FC]] which play in the [[Benin Premier League]], the highest division of Beninese football.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

==Notable people==
*[[Hubert Maga]], first [[List of Presidents of Benin|President of Benin]] (1916–2000)<ref>{{Harvnb|Matthews|1966|p=139}}</ref>
*[[Chabi Mama]], politician (1921–1996)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rulers.org/indexm1.html|title = Index Ma-Mam}}</ref>
*[[Marc Aillet]], French bishop
*[[Chérif Dine Akakpo]], Beninese professional footballer (born 1997)<ref>{{NFT player|74949}}</ref>
*[[Mohamed Chikoto]], footballer
*[[Nouhoum Kobéna]], former footballer
*[[Arouna Mama]], politician (1925–1974)
*[[Steve Mounié]], footballer
*[[Achille Rouga]], former footballer
*[[Abdel Fadel Suanon]], footballer

== See also ==

* [[Railway stations in Benin]]
* [[West Africa Regional Rail Integration]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Commons category}}
{{Refbegin}}
* *{{cite journal |last1=Akinwumi |first1=Olayemi |title=Oral Traditions and the Political History of Borgu |journal=Anthropos |date=1999 |volume=4 |issue=1 |access-date=19 March 2025|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/40465704}}
* {{Cite book|last=Matthews|first=Ronald|title=African Powder Keg: Revolt and Dissent in Six Emergent Nations|year=1966|publisher=[[The Bodley Head]]|location=London|oclc=246401461}}.
* {{Cite book|last=Butler|first=Stuart|title=Benin|year=2006|publisher=[[Bradt Travel Guides]], The Globe Pequot Press|location=[[Guilford, Connecticut]]}}

{{Refend}}
{{coord|9|21|N|2|37|E|region:BJ_type:city|display=title}}

{{Communes of Benin}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Parakou| ]]
[[Category:Communes of Benin]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Borgou Department]]