Benin civics quiz: questions and answers
All 15 general civics quiz questions about Benin with answers and explanations, grouped by topic. This is a learning quiz, not an official exam. Select a question to see the answer.
Government and law 5 questions
The official capital and seat of government, official language, currency and national motto.
Practise only: Government and law →
What is the official capital of Benin?
Porto-Novo
Porto-Novo is Benin's official capital, although many government institutions are based in Cotonou.
Which city is the seat of government of Benin?
Cotonou
Cotonou, the largest city, is the seat of government, while Porto-Novo is the official capital.
What is the official language of Benin?
French
French is Benin's official language. Fon and Yoruba are among the many widely spoken national languages.
Which currency does Benin use?
West African CFA franc
Benin uses the West African CFA franc (XOF), shared with several other West African states.
What is Benin’s national motto?
Fraternité, Justice, Travail
Benin's motto means "Fraternity, Justice, Work".
History 5 questions
The Kingdom of Dahomey, independence in 1960, the 1975 change of name and the 1990 National Conference.
What was Benin called when it became independent in 1960?
Dahomey
The country became independent as the Republic of Dahomey, named after the historic Kingdom of Dahomey.
On what date did Benin gain full independence from France?
1 August 1960
Dahomey became fully independent from France on 1 August 1960, the date now marked as Independence Day.
In which year was the country renamed the People’s Republic of Benin?
1975
On 30 November 1975, Dahomey was renamed the People's Republic of Benin.
Which king of Dahomey led resistance against the French conquest in the 1890s?
Béhanzin
King Béhanzin fought French forces in the early 1890s before Dahomey was conquered and made a French colony.
What 1990 meeting opened the way to multi-party democracy in Benin?
The National Conference
The National Conference of February 1990 brought together many groups and led to a new constitution and multi-party elections.
Geography, culture and symbols 5 questions
The Royal Palaces of Abomey, Ganvié, Ouidah and Vodun, the flag and the national anthem.
Practise only: Geography, culture and symbols →
Which Beninese site was the first in the country added to the World Heritage List?
Royal Palaces of Abomey
The Royal Palaces of Abomey, built by the kings of Dahomey, were inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1985.
Ganvié, a village of houses built on stilts, stands on which lake?
Lake Nokoué
Ganvié is a large stilt village on Lake Nokoué, near Cotonou, where people travel mainly by boat.
Which coastal town is the spiritual centre of Vodun in Benin?
Ouidah
Ouidah is the spiritual centre of Beninese Vodun and was also a major port in the Atlantic slave trade.
What colours are on the flag of Benin?
Green, yellow and red
The flag has a green vertical band at the hoist, with yellow above red on the right.
What is the national anthem of Benin called?
L'Aube nouvelle
Benin's anthem is "L'Aube nouvelle" ("The New Dawn"). The others are the anthems of Gabon, Chad and Togo.
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