Natitingou | |
|---|---|
 Natitingou | |
  Natitingou Location in Benin | |
| Coordinates:10°18′N1°22′E / 10.300°N 1.367°E /10.300; 1.367 | |
| Country |  Benin |
| Department | Atakora Department |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,045 km2 (1,176 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 426 m (1,398 ft) |
| Population (2013 census)[1] | |
• Total | 104,010 |
| • Density | 34/km2 (88/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
Natitingou[na.ti.tɛ̃ŋ.gu], informally referred to asNati[na.ti],[2] is a city andcommune in north westernBenin and the capital ofAtakora Department. The commune covers an area of 3045 square kilometres and as of 2013 had a population of 104,010 people.[3][4]
Natitingou, like many areas of Benin, is home to aconstituent monarchy.[5]
The town was founded by the Waama ethnic groups but is populated withDitammari,Dendi,Nateni,Fulani,Fon, and many other ethnic groups. According to popular etymology, the town takes its name from the wordNantibatingou, from the Waama root "Nanto" meaningto crush, as the local people were renowned growers ofsorghum which was native to the area and later millet.[6]
Natitingou is evenly divided between Christians and Muslims and, like the rest of Benin, is notable for its ethnic and religious tolerance.[6]
The mountains surrounding the region to the east and west sides are important in local animists, who believe them to be inhabited by spirits.[6] Certain people subscribe to the idea that during the evening these spirits emit sounds similar to those produced by stones which women uses to crush cereal grains.[6] Adherents do not crush cereals in the evening, so as not to confuse the two sounds.[6]
European missionaries visited Natitingou in the 19th century and early 20th century.[6]
The town of Natitingou belongs to the Department of Atakora in northwestern Benin. It lies in a semi-valley, formed by the two mountain ridges that surround it. Natitingou is located 645 km from the economic capital ofCotonou and 100 km fromPorga at the entrance of thePendjari National Park.[6] The commune is bounded on the north byToucountouna, south and east byKouandé and to the west by the commune ofBoukombé.[3][6]
The climate in Natitingou is drier than in the south, particularly during theHarmattan season in December/January, when humidity can be as low as 10% and night temperatures can be as low as 17 degrees Celsius.
| Climate data for Natitingou (1991–2020, extremes 1921–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 40.0 (104.0) | 44.2 (111.6) | 42.2 (108.0) | 41.5 (106.7) | 40.7 (105.3) | 37.8 (100.0) | 39.9 (103.8) | 40.7 (105.3) | 39.5 (103.1) | 37.5 (99.5) | 39.4 (102.9) | 39.5 (103.1) | 44.2 (111.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 34.9 (94.8) | 36.9 (98.4) | 38.0 (100.4) | 36.4 (97.5) | 34.0 (93.2) | 31.9 (89.4) | 30.0 (86.0) | 29.4 (84.9) | 30.8 (87.4) | 32.9 (91.2) | 35.2 (95.4) | 35.2 (95.4) | 33.8 (92.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.7 (80.1) | 28.9 (84.0) | 30.8 (87.4) | 30.3 (86.5) | 28.6 (83.5) | 27.0 (80.6) | 25.8 (78.4) | 25.3 (77.5) | 25.9 (78.6) | 26.9 (80.4) | 27.0 (80.6) | 26.5 (79.7) | 27.5 (81.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 18.4 (65.1) | 20.8 (69.4) | 23.5 (74.3) | 24.2 (75.6) | 23.2 (73.8) | 22.0 (71.6) | 21.5 (70.7) | 21.3 (70.3) | 21.0 (69.8) | 20.9 (69.6) | 18.7 (65.7) | 17.8 (64.0) | 21.1 (70.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 10.4 (50.7) | 13.4 (56.1) | 15.3 (59.5) | 17.8 (64.0) | 17.8 (64.0) | 17.8 (64.0) | 18.0 (64.4) | 18.0 (64.4) | 17.7 (63.9) | 15.7 (60.3) | 11.4 (52.5) | 8.8 (47.8) | 8.8 (47.8) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 1.8 (0.07) | 6.5 (0.26) | 15.7 (0.62) | 68.6 (2.70) | 127.5 (5.02) | 159.2 (6.27) | 183.2 (7.21) | 274.6 (10.81) | 241.9 (9.52) | 104.6 (4.12) | 12.3 (0.48) | 0.2 (0.01) | 1,196.1 (47.09) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 21 | 20 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 111 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 33.1 | 34.3 | 46.0 | 62.7 | 72.1 | 77.4 | 81.5 | 83.0 | 81.1 | 74.9 | 54.8 | 39.3 | 61.7 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 272.8 | 249.2 | 248.0 | 240.0 | 244.9 | 207.0 | 164.3 | 139.5 | 162.0 | 226.3 | 264.0 | 260.4 | 2,678.4 |
| Percentagepossible sunshine | 77 | 76 | 67 | 65 | 63 | 55 | 42 | 37 | 45 | 62 | 76 | 74 | 61 |
| Source 1: NOAA[7] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Meteo Climat (extremes)[8] | |||||||||||||
Natitingou is subdivided into nine arrondissements; four of them urban:Natitingou I,Natitingou II,Natitingou III andNatitingou IV (Péporiyakou) and five of them rural:Kotapounga,Kouaba,Koundata,Perma andTchoumi-Tchoumi. They contain 39 villages and 26 urban districts.[3]
The commune has a population of 75,620 inhabitants according to the 2002 census (57,153 in 1992) with 37,388 men and 38,223 women.[6] The density is 56 inhabitants per km2. The population is predominantly young.[6]
A multitude of ethnic groups reside here speaking a variety of languages. The main ethnic groups are theDitammari,Waama andDendi.[6] Other than traditionalanimism,Christianity andIslam are the main religions practised, and there are a number of churches and mosques in the area. However, many local Christians and Muslims often simultaneously believe in animist practices and join in traditional events in Natitingou.
People in the urban districts of Natitingou are mostly civil servants, craftsmen and merchants.[6] Natitingou has an important administrative function and has some of the most important administrative bodies and services in the Atakora Department.[6]
Agriculture is the backbone to the rural economy, and farmers producesorghum,maize,yams and, more recently,cotton as a commercial product.[6] The manufacture and marketing of the local drink known asTchoucoutou is also very important, and is produced by housewives and is their main source of income.[6] The drink is sold to nightclubs where there are many consumers. Tchoucoutou is made from the grainsorghum and is a form of malt beer.[6]
Natitingou is about 50 km from Benin'sPendjari National Park, where tourists can see West African wildlife during the months of December through June.[2] The Kota andTanougou waterfalls, the great mud castles of theBetammaribe known as theTata Somba are also within an hour or two of the town by car. Within the town itself can be found the Regional Museum of Natitingou, as well as two marketplaces.[2]
Villanova University Men's Basketball playerMouphtaou Yarou is a native of Natitingou.[9] He was ranked #9 in 2009 among high school basketball prospects in America.[citation needed]
Charles Thiebaut, a promoter of African music and culture in France, is a native of Natitingou. He grew up in an orphanage and was adopted by the Thiebaut family from France, when he was 4 years old.[citation needed]
Media related toNatitingou at Wikimedia Commons
Natitingou travel guide from WikivoyageAuthority control databases: Geographic |
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