LOCATION

The Republic of Benin is a West African country located in the inter-tropical zone between the Ecuador and the North Tropic. It appears like ‘a tree stretching out of the Atlantic Ocean’ at the South, and the river Niger in the North. The country is bordered in the East by the griant Nigeria, in the West by Togo and in the Northwest Burkina Faso. Its area is 112,622 km square and the population about six millions with big cities such as Cotonou, Porto-Novo and Parakou, the Archdiocese of the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales’ pastoral commitment.

GLANCE INTO HISTORY: RELIGION AND ARTS

Benin, the offspring of Dahomey, is universally known as a country having an artistic tradition. Art was initially born in convents (Voodoo) where sculpture, painting, basketwork, pottery, singing, dancing and choreography were material and spiritual supports of the Voodoo gods. Far from Hollywood movies’ imaginary about Voodoo, a genuine and sincere Socio-Anthropological approach to this religion can lead us conclude that Voodoo is for any traditional African what Philosophy has been to the Greek or the Law to the Romans. It is the culture that shapes thoughts and behaviour patterns even before individual becomes aware of their own existence…
A handicraft developed also for ritual ends. The most developed aspect of these rituals in Benin is sculpture, which produced the thrones of Abomey’s Kings, the doors of ancient palaces, statuettes, tools, armchairs, chairs and especially the mysterious and sacred masks. These masks are first accessible to members of secret societies (Guèlèdè of Kétou). Their role is to protect us and to drive us towards the blessings of the invisible beings that fill the earth and the cosmos. In the name of those invisible beings, the masters and mistresses of those secret circles also secretly serve as regulator of political power in our ancient monarchy.
Painting tradition is more recent. A rich and varied utility and cult handicrafts can be found every where in Benin. At the market places, visitors will find it difficult to choose from the varied range of basketwork, sculpture, pottery, gold work and texture articles that are offered.

Benin, like most of the African countries came into contact with Christianity through colons who invaded the country from the southern part: this explain well the reason why that part of the country still counts the highest number of Christians nation wide. Likewise, the Moslem merchants brought Islam into the country from North Africa, through the Sahara desert. Consequently, the highest concentration of Moslems community is found in the northern part of the country. The Archdiocese of Parakou is the crossway between those two Socio-religious realities of the country already shaped by the strong traditional religious and cultural backgrounds. In that sense, the jock about the people of Benin is that about 30% are Christian, 30% Moslem, but at least 85% are members of traditional religion: Voodoo! ‘No matter how long the trunk of a tree stays in the river, it will never change into a crocodile’ (African proverb).

TODAY: ECONOMICS AND POLITICS

Economically Benin is said to be a poor country. For example, among the UN’s 147 classified poorest countries in the world, Benin is identified as more or less the 135th. But so far, every single Beninese has a shelter.

Politically, the country is flowing on the wings of the democracy blowing over the continent since the nineties after decades of political instability and communism ideologies. It will not be pointless adding that Benin is in fact the first country of the African continent to have opted for a democratic political system after a public conference gathering all the knowledgeable mind of our country in 1989. Since then, the different religions groups acting in the country are also enjoying the same freedom of speech and activities.

Benoît XVI reçoit le président du Bénin

Thomas Yayi Boni reconnaît la contribution de l’Eglise au développement de son pays

Le président du Bénin, Thomas Yayi Boni, qui a été reçu ce samedi en audience par le pape Benoît XVI, a reconnu que l'Eglise apporte une réelle contribution au développement de son pays.
Le président du Bénin était accompagné de son épouse, Chantal de Souza Yavi et d'une suite. Il s'est entretenu en privé avec le pape, pendant une quinzaine de minutes, en français. Thomas Yayi Boni a ensuite rencontré le cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, secrétaire d'Etat, assisté de Mgr Dominique Mamberti, secrétaire pour les relations avec les Etats.
« Ces entretiens ont permis d'évoquer la délicate situation socio-économique que traverse le pays, largement aggravée par les inondations d'octobre dernier », précise une note du Saint-Siège publiée à l'issue de la rencontre.
« Les deux parties se sont également réjouies des bonnes relations entre l'Eglise et l'Etat. Comme il l'avait fait préalablement lors de sa visite au Conseil pontifical Cor Unum, le Chef de l'Etat s'est félicité de l'importante contribution des catholiques au développement du Bénin, notamment dans l'éducation, la santé et la promotion humaine », conclut la note.
Sur les huit millions d'habitants du Bénin, ancien pays marxiste, 42,8% sont chrétiens (27,1% catholiques). Les musulmans représentent 24, 4% de la population.
Jesús Colina (www.zenit.org)

Pontiff Pays Homage to Late Cardinal Gantin of Bénin

Notes He Was 1st African With High Curial Positions

VATICAN CITY, MAY 23, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Bernardin Gantin was a marvellous blend of African culture and evangelical values, says Benedict XVI.


The Pope praised the cardinal -- who died May 13 at age 86 -- in a memorial Mass celebrated today in St. Peter's Basilica. The Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, and by other members of the college.

The late cardinal was a retired dean of the College, as well as a past emeritus of the Congregation for Bishops.

The Holy Father said, "The truth, of which the word of God powerfully reminds us, is that nothing and no one, not even death, can resist the omnipotence of his faithful and merciful love. This is our faith, founded on Christ's resurrection; this is the constant assurance which the Lord repeats, today as always."

"It is in this perspective of faith and hope in the Resurrection that we recall the venerable Cardinal Bernardin Gantin," the Pontiff said.

The cardinal, he continued, "to the end dedicated himself with affable willingness to the service of God and his fellows, maintaining faith in the motto he chose at the moment of his episcopal ordination: 'In tuo sancto servitio.'"Marvellous blend

Benedict XVI said the character of the cardinal was "a marvellous blend of the characteristics of the African soul with those of the Christian spirit, of African culture and identify with evangelical values. He was the first African prelate to occupy roles of great responsibility in the Roman Curia."

The Holy Father went on to speak of the experiences he had shared with Cardinal Gantin, "which enabled me to gain ever greater appreciation of his prudent wisdom, as well as his solid faith and sincere adherence to Christ and to his vicar on earth, the Pope. Fifty-seven years of priesthood, 51 years of episcopate and 31 as cardinal: This is the summary of a life spent for the Church."

The Bishop of Rome enumerated the various stages of the cardinal's life: his priestly ordination in 1951; his consecration as bishop in 1957 at the age of just 34; the period he spent as archbishop of Cotonou, capital of his native country of Benin, when he was the first metropolitan of Africa.

In 1971, called by Pope Paul VI, he came to Rome as adjunct secretary to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. A few years later he became secretary of that congregation and, in 1976, also became president of the Pontifical Council Justice and Peace. Paul VI made him a cardinal in 1977, and in 1984 Pope John Paul II appointed him as prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

Life's essentials

"This friend and brother of ours to whom we today pay homage," said Benedict XVI, "was permeated with love for Christ [...] which made him affable and ready to listen and talk to everyone." Christ's love "encouraged him to look, as he used to say, always to the essentials of the life that last, without losing himself in the side issues which quickly pass," the Pope continued. "[It] made him see his role in the various offices of the Curia as a service devoid of human ambitions.

"In Cardinal Gantin's pastoral ministry there emerges a constant love for the Eucharist, source of individual sanctity and of solid ecclesial communion, which has its visible foundation in Peter's Successor.

"And it was in this very basilica, celebrating his last Mass before leaving Rome, that he highlighted the unity the Eucharist creates in the Church. In his homily he quoted the famous phrase of the African bishop St. Cyprian of Carthage: [...] 'From here, the one faith shines out through the world; from here, arises the unity of the priesthood.'"

"This," the Pope concluded, "could be the message we draw from Cardinal Gantin, as his spiritual testament."