Country Benin Elevation 288 m (945 ft) Postal address BP: 30 Area 3,421 km² Local time Saturday 6:06 PM | Department Alibori Department Time zone WAT (UTC+1) Area code(s) (+229) 23 Population 177,683 (2013) Number of airports 1 | |
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Weather 40°C, Wind NE at 11 km/h, 9% Humidity | ||
Kandi is a town, arrondissement and commune in the Alibori Department of eastern Benin. Originally a market town, Kandi is now primarily a farming centre. It lies on the nation's main north-south highway, 650 km from Cotonou and 325 miles (523 km) north of Porto-Novo. The town is the capital of the department of Alibori. The commune covers an area of 3421 square kilometres and as of 2013 had a population of 177,683 people. The town itself had a population of 27,227 in 2002.
Contents
Map of Kandi, Benin
History
Kandi was founded by the Dendi Kingdom, an offshoot of the Songhai Empire. The surrounded villages are Mokole Yoruba, who fled the wars of the foundation of the Oyo Kingdom. The surrounding countryside is Bariba.
Geography
The commune of Kandi is located 650 kilometres from Cotonou. Communally it is bounded to the north by Malanville, south by Gogounou, west by Banikoara and to the east with Ségbana.
Administrative divisions
Kandi is subdivided into 10 arrondissements; Kandi I, Kandi II, Kandi III, Angaradébou, Bensékou, Donwari, Kassakou, Saah, Sam and Sonsoro. They contain 39 villages and 9 urban districts.
Economy
Most of the population are engaged in agricultural activities followed by trade, transportation and handicrafts. The main crops grown are maize, cotton, kapok, millet and peanuts. There are notable iron deposits of high quality in the vicinity.
Transport
The town is situated on the RNIE 2 highway and is served by Kandi Airport, which is located north of the main town.