The Postal History of the Republic of Benin

Benin is in West Africa, located by the Atlantic Ocean and bordered by Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

Timeline of Benin’s Postal History

  • 1892: The first stamps used in this area were French colonial stamps overprinted with the word “BÉNIN”. These were used in places under French control, like the port town of Cotonou, even though the region was still known as the Kingdom of Dahomey.
  • 1904: France officially made Dahomey a colony. It became one of the territories in a group of colonies called French West Africa*.
  • 1899 to 1944: Stamps with “Dahomey” and "Afrique Occidentale Française” (AOF) written on them were produced during this time and used across the region.
  • 1960: Dahomey became an independent country and began creating its own stamps again. These showed off national traditions, animals, important buildings, and leaders.
  • 1975: The country changed its name from Dahomey to Benin. The first stamps with the new name were released in 1976, labelled “République Populaire du Bénin”.
  • 1990 to present: The name on the stamps changed again to “République du Bénin”, and this is still used on Benin’s stamps today.

*What Was French West Africa?

In 1895, France joined several West African colonies into a big group called French West Africa (Afrique Occidentale Française). Instead of using their own stamps, these places started using the same ones with the name "Afrique Occidentale Française". The federation existed from 1895 to 1958.

These colonies were part of French West Africa:

  • Dahomey (now Benin)
  • French Guinea (now Guinea)
  • French Sudan (now Mali)
  • Ivory Coast
  • Mauritania
  • Niger
  • Senegal
  • Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso)

Timeline of Benin’s Stamps

Did You Know?

  • How to pronounce Benin in English: beh - neen.
  • The Kingdom of Dahomey, which ruled much of today’s Benin, had an army that included female warriors called the Agojie—they were brave and highly trained fighters.
  • In the early days of postal service in Benin, mail was sometimes carried by runners or sent by boat along rivers and the coast before railways and roads were built.
  • The Royal Palaces of Abomey, once home to Dahomey kings, were later shown on stamps and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Before independence, stamps with “Dahomey” were printed in France, but after 1960, some of Benin’s stamps were designed and printed in other countries like Czechoslovakia.
  • For over 300 years, the coast of what is now Benin was called the “Slave Coast” because many enslaved Africans were taken from ports like Ouidah and Cotonou by European traders. The powerful Kingdom of Dahomey was involved in the slave trade, capturing people during wars and selling them. Today, Benin remembers this painful history with monuments and museums, and stamps have been issued to honour the victims and promote peace.
  • Benin is home to Ganvié, a village built entirely on stilts over a lake! People get around by canoe, and it’s sometimes called the “Venice of Africa.” A stamp showing this floating village was issued in the 1970s.
  • The traditional Vodun religion (sometimes called Voodoo) began in Benin. It’s one of the country’s oldest belief systems and is still practised today. Some stamps show sacred masks and symbols linked to Vodun culture.

Ganvié: The Floating Village of Benin

In the south of Benin, on Lake Nokoué, there’s a village like no other—Ganvié, where houses, schools, shops, and even a post office stand on wooden stilts above the water! People travel by canoe instead of cars, and children learn to paddle almost as soon as they can walk.

Ganvié was built over 300 years ago by people from the Tofinu ethnic group. They fled to the lake to escape being captured during the slave trade, as warriors from the Kingdom of Dahomey wouldn’t fight on water. The village became a safe place, and today it’s home to more than 20,000 people.

Ganvié is sometimes called the "Venice of Africa" because of its canals and floating life. It’s one of the largest lake villages in the world and has been featured on Benin’s stamps to show its beauty and history. See Figure 1.

To learn more about Dahomey check out the Exploring Stamps video

Benin Stamps

Benin

Issued 1893: 40 cent Navigation and Commerce stamp overprinted "GOLFE DE BENIN".

Benin

Issued 1894: 1 cent Navigation and Commerce stamp overprinted "BENIN".

Benin

Issued 1976: Winter Olympic games Innsbruck Airmial series - bobsleighing.

Benin

Issued 1978: Domestic Poultry - 1 franc, Panther.

Benin

Issued 1996: Olympic Games at Atlanta - 40 franc, Diving.

Dahomey Stamps

Dahomey

Figure 1 - Issued 1942: Mashhal Petain issue - 1 franc, Ganvié, village on piles.

Dahomey

Issued 1960: 100 franc, A traditional house know as a Tata Somba. Some are built like fortresses, they are made of red mud.

Dahomey

Issued 1960: 500 franc, Royal Court Abomey.

Dahomey

Issued 1942: Dakar Games - 2 franc, Running.

Dahomey

Issued 1966: The First World Festivial of Negro Arts at Dakar, Senegal - 15 franc, Jewelry.

Dahomey

Issued 1966: The First World Festivial of Negro Arts at Dakar, Senegal - 30 franc, Building work.

Dahomey

Issued 1966: The First World Festivial of Negro Arts at Dakar, Senegal - 50 franc, Musician.

Dahomey

Issued 1966: The First World Festivial of Negro Arts at Dakar, Senegal - 70 franc, Religious art & craft.

Dahomey

Issued 1942: Postage Due Stamp - 2 franc, Panther.