Banikoara | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 11°18′N 2°26′E / 11.300°N 2.433°E | |
Country | Benin |
Department | Alibori Department |
Area | |
• Commune, arrondissement and city | 4,383 km2 (1,692 sq mi) |
Elevation | 300 m (1,000 ft) |
Population (2013) | |
• Commune, arrondissement and city | 248,621 |
• Density | 57/km2 (150/sq mi) |
• Metro | 28,402 |
Time zone | UTC+1 ( WAT) |
Postal address | BP: 01 |
Area code | (+223) 29 |
Banikoara is a town, arrondissement and commune located in the Alibori Department of Benin. It lies 69 kilometers west of Kandi at the heart of the most productive cotton-growing region in Benin. Its name is a Europeanized version of a Bariba phrase meaning "Bani's town", and honors its founder, Bani Gansé.
Banikoara, like many areas of Benin, is home to a constituent monarchy. [1]
Banikoara is subdivided into 10 arrondissements; Banikoara, Founougo, Gomparou, Goumori, Kokey, Kokiborou, Ounet, Sompérékou, Soroko and Toura. They contain 53 villages and 11 urban districts. [2]
The arrondissement of Banikoara contains the villages of Arbonga, Demanou, Derou Garou, Kokire, Kommon, Kori Ginguiri, Tokey Banta, Wagou, Weterou and Yadikparou. [3]
The commune covers an area of 4383 square kilometres and as of 2002 had a population of 152,028 people. [2] [4] In 2008 there was an estimated 24,917 living in the main town. [5]
Most of the population are engaged in agricultural activities followed by trade and handicrafts. 51 024,00 hectares of land are devoted to agriculture, accounting for 7.32% of the total land area. [2] The main crops grown are maize, cotton, sorghum and cowpeas. [2]
Electricity used in Banikora often has to be produced by a generator due to a defective solar system and unreliable mains electricity. [6] The telephone lines are in poor condition, which makes it difficult to maintain a regular and reliable connection for Internet access. [6] Banikoara is 60 kilometres from the nearest hard road and its development is hampered by its isolation until infrastructure develops. [6]
UNESCO has donated four computers and other equipment and provided an initial two-week training and been responsible for the establishment of a radio station in Banikoara in 1994. [6] They had provided education to local people in basic IT and Internet skills since February 2002, text processing, photocopying, scanning, printing and photography. [6]