Athiémé
Athiémè | |
|---|---|
Town and commune | |
.jpg?lang=en) Access to the new bridge (2016) | |
  Athiémè Location in Benin | |
| Coordinates: 6°35′N 1°40′E / 6.583°N 1.667°E | |
| Country |  Benin |
| Department | Mono Department |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Saturnin Kokou DANSOU |
| Area | |
• Total | 220 km2 (85 sq mi) |
| Population (2013) | |
• Total | 56,483 |
Athiémé [a.tje.mɛ] is a town and arrondissement located in the Mono Department of Benin. The commune covers an area of 220 square kilometres and as of 2013 had a population of 56,483 people.[1][2]
Geography
[edit]Athiémé is located in the south-western part of Benin, in the Mono basin, close to the border with Togo. The Mono River, one of the region’s principal waterways, flows near the commune and plays a central role in agriculture, fishing and seasonal flooding dynamics. [3] The commune shares boundaries with Comé to the south, Lokossa to the north and east, and the Togolese prefectures of Agou and Yoto across the river to the west. The landscape is characterized by low plateaus and floodplains with sandy and hydromorphic soils.
Administrative structure
[edit]Athiémé is one of the six communes of the Mono Department. It is administratively composed of five arrondissements:
- Athiémé (urban center)
- Zohouri
- Kpinnou
- Segbegan
- Kpinnou-Affomadjè
These arrondissements contain several villages and city districts which form the basic local administrative structures. [4]
Demographics
[edit]According to the 2013 census, Athiémé had a population of 56,483, with women representing slightly more than half of the inhabitants. [5]
Athiémé is ethnically diverse, including: Sahouè and Kotafon (majority groups), Fon, Mina, Adja, and minorities from neighboring Togo. Languages spoken include Sahouè, Fon, Mina, and French (official language).
Economy
[edit]The economy of Athiémé is strongly linked to the Mono River. Agriculture represents the primary activity, with major crops including: maize, cassava, rice (grown in floodplains), palm oil, market-garden products Fishing is a key economic and cultural activity, practiced year-round but especially during seasonal flood cycles. [6] Cross-border trade with Togo—mainly agricultural produce, textiles, and household goods—is widespread, especially through informal river crossing points.
Culture
[edit]Athiémé hosts traditional festivals linked to river spirits, ancestral veneration, and agricultural cycles. The Sahouè cultural identity is reflected in traditional dances, fabric weaving, and palm-wine rituals. [7] The commune is also known for its traditional chieftaincies (chefferies locales), including the seat of local kings whose influence remains active in social cohesion and customary conflict mediation.
Transport
[edit]Athiémé is accessible via the national road network linking Lokossa to Comé and Grand-Popo. Rural roads connect the central arrondissement to surrounding villages, though many become difficult to navigate during the rainy season due to Mono River flooding.
Public services
[edit]The town hosts several primary and secondary schools as well as health centers, including the Athiémé communal health center. Access to drinking water has improved thanks to boreholes and small water-supply systems supported by national development programs. [8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Athieme". Atlas Monographique des Communes du Benin. Retrieved January 5, 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Communes of Benin". Statoids. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
- ^ "Mono River Basin – Environmental Overview". West African Water Resources Cooperation. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
- ^ "Athiémé – Structure administrative". Ministère de la Décentralisation. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
- ^ "Données démographiques du Mono – RGPH-4" (PDF). INSAE. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
- ^ "Étude du potentiel halieutique dans le bassin du Mono". ResearchGate. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
- ^ "Cultures du Mono – Patrimoine immatériel". Ministry of Culture of Benin. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
- ^ "Programme d'accès à l'eau potable dans le Mono". Benin Water Initiative. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Athiémé at Wikimedia Commons
6°35′N 1°40′E / 6.583°N 1.667°E
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