I can't officially accept yet, since my invitation was incorrectly delivered to who-knows-who (so now I have to wait for a new copy to be delivered...grr), but I am definitely going to!
West Africa, here I come!! :)
Some facts about Benin (courtesy of CIA World Factbook)...
History: Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged. KEREKOU stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and independent. YAYI, who won a second five-year term in March 2011, has attempted to stem corruption and has strongly promoted accelerating Benin's economic growth.
Size: 112,622 sq km
Capital city: Porto Novo
Population size: 9,598,787 (July 2012 est.)
Ethnic groups: Fon and related 39.2%, Adja and related 15.2%, Yoruba and related 12.3%, Bariba and related 9.2%, Peulh and related 7%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%, Dendi and related 2.5%, other 1.6% (includes Europeans), unspecified 2.9%
Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Religions: Catholic 27.1%, Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, Protestant 10.4% (Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%), other Christian 5.3%, other 15.5%
Congratulations, what amazing news!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'm so unbelievably happy and excited! My PO did good. ;) I am also very thankful that my PO told me where my invite was to, since otherwise I would've had to wait over two weeks until my second invitation was delivered (apparently you should never trust UPS to get your address correct).
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