Benin excites everybody's love for the mysterious and unfamiliar with its title, ‘the cradle of voodoo’ but it is hardly the place to visit for historical or architectural splendours.
Benin is divided into 12 departments (French: départements), and subdivided into 77 communes (see Communes of Benin). In 1999, the previous six departments were each split into two halves, forming the current 12. The new six departments have been assigned a capital in 2008.
Officially name: The Republic of Benin
Capital: Porto-Novo
Largest city: Cotonou
Official language: French
Government: Multiparty democracy