Bight of Benin

The Bight of Benin, also called the Bay of Benin, is a large curve of water along the western coast of Africa. It is found in the Gulf of Guinea area, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. This special shape of the coastline has helped ships and boats move along the coast for many years. The Bight of Benin touches several countries and has been important for the history and natural resources of the area.

Geography

The Bight of Benin was named for the Kingdom of Benin in modern-day Nigeria. It stretches eastward for about 640 kilometres (400 mi) from Cape St. Paul to the Nun outlet of the Niger River.

The area became known as the Slave Coast because of its history with the Atlantic slave trade. Many kingdoms in the region were involved in this trade. Later, new routes allowed the trade to increase.

Cultural references

The Bight of Benin has a long history with some hard times in the past. Because of health risks and dangers, old sailors made rhymes to warn others. One famous rhyme says:

Beware, beware the Bight of the Benin, for few come out though many go in.

These rhymes remind us of the challenges sailors faced long ago. The area appears in many stories and books by famous writers, showing its importance in history and literature. Writers have used the Bight of Benin in their tales set in places like Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria.

History

On 1 February 1852, the British made a protected area called the Bight of Benin. Special leaders named Consuls watched over this area. The region and the nearby country of Benin were named after an old kingdom called the Kingdom of Benin. This kingdom reached from Cape St. Paul to where the River Niger meets the sea.

Later, on 6 August 1861, the Bight of Benin was joined with another protected area called the Bight of Biafra. Together, they formed a larger British protected area. This area later became part of Nigeria.

References and sources

References

Sources

• WorldStatesmen- Southern Nigeria