Grand-Popo | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Grand-Popo Location in Benin | |
| Coordinates:6°17′N1°50′E / 6.283°N 1.833°E /6.283; 1.833 | |
| Country |  Benin |
| Department | Mono Department |
| Area | |
• Total | 112 sq mi (289 km2) |
| Population (2013 Census) | |
• Total | 57,636 |
| • Density | 520/sq mi (200/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
Grand-Popo[gʁɑ̃.pɔ.po] is a town,arrondissement, andcommune in theMono Department of south-westernBenin. The commune covers an area of 289 square kilometres and as at the 2013 Census had a population of 57,636 people.[1][2]
The term "Grand-Popo" is a European exonym for the ancient town and kingdom of "Hulagan" (Great Hula). TheHula/Xwla/Phla people that once dominated the Togo-Benin coast traditionally regarded Great Hula as their ancestral town of common origin.[3] It is unclear why Europeans began calling it Popo rather than Hula. It may come from a genericYoruba term "popo" for peoples to their "west", which was subsequently borrowed by the Portuguese to refer to the Hula/Phla specifically. An alternative theory connects the "Popo" term to an ancient ruler called Kpokpo ofTado (anAja town in the interior), which the Europeans may have confused with Hulagan.[4]
The town grew around theslave trade, butcoastal erosion has now destroyed most of the old town.[5] The town is now a centre forvoodoo and home to aFinnish-Africancultural centre,Villa Karo. The town's main industry isfishing.
The town inspired the name of the French electronic music duoGrand Popo Football Club, as well as the name of the iPad application creator Grand Popo LLC.[6]
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(May 2021) |
Grand Popo travel guide from Wikivoyage
History of Grand-Popo at Wikibooks | ThisMono Department location article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
