Banikoara

{{Infobox settlement   |name = Banikoara |other_name = |native_name =  |nickname = |settlement_type =Commune, arrondissement and city |motto =  |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |pushpin_map = Benin |pushpin_label_position =bottom |pushpin_mapsize = |pushpin_map_caption =Location in Benin  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{flag|Benin}} |subdivision_type1 = Department |subdivision_name1 = Alibori Department |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = | |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 =  |leader_name1 = |established_title =  |established_date =  |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 =4383  |area_land_km2 =   |population_as_of =2013 |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total =248621 |population_density_km2 = auto |population_metro =28402 |population_density_metro_km2 =auto  |timezone =WAT |utc_offset = +1 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = {{coord|11|18|N|2|26|E|region:BJ|display=inline,title}} |elevation_footnotes =  |elevation_m = 300  |postal_code_type = Postal address |postal_code = BP: 01 |area_code = (+223) 29 |website = |footnotes = }}

'''Banikoara''' {{IPA|fr|ba.ni.kwa.ʁa|}} is a town, arrondissement and commune located in the Alibori Department of Benin. It lies 69 kilometers west of Kandi at the heart of the most productive cotton-growing region in Benin. Its name is a Europeanized version of a Bariba phrase meaning "Bani's town", and honors its founder, Bani Gansé.

Banikoara, like many areas of Benin, is home to a constituent monarchy.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://actubenin.com/presidence-du-haut-conseil-des-rois-du-beninkpodegbe-lanmanfan-reconduit-pour-un-nouveau-mandat | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104161751/https://actubenin.com/presidence-du-haut-conseil-des-rois-du-beninkpodegbe-lanmanfan-reconduit-pour-un-nouveau-mandat | archive-date=2022-01-04 | title=Présidence du Haut conseil des rois du Bénin:Kpodégbé Lanmanfan reconduit pour un nouveau mandat | Benin : Actualité, politique, Sport, Santé, Artetculture }}</ref>

==Administrative divisions== Banikoara is subdivided into 10 arrondissements; Banikoara, Founougo, Gomparou, Goumori, Kokey, Kokiborou, Ounet, Sompérékou, Soroko and Toura. They contain 53 villages and 11 urban districts.<ref name="Atlasbenin"/>

The arrondissement of Banikoara contains the villages of Arbonga, Demanou, Derou Garou, Kokire, Kommon, Kori Ginguiri, Tokey Banta, Wagou, Weterou and Yadikparou.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eaubenin.bj/docs/PtExecAct/PE_Fonct_Panne_SE_Vil_2011.pdf|title=Point des Realisations par Village|publisher=Direction Générale de l'Eau du Benin|date=24 April 2014|access-date=28 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072751/http://www.eaubenin.bj/docs/PtExecAct/PE_Fonct_Panne_SE_Vil_2011.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Demographics==

The commune covers an area of 4383 square kilometres and as of 2002 had a population of 152,028 people.<ref name="Atlasbenin">{{cite web|url=http://atlasbenin.africa-web.org/Alibori/Banikoara.htm|title=Banikoara|publisher=Atlas Monographique des Communes du Benin|access-date=January 5, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statoids.com/ybj.html|title=Communes of Benin|publisher=Statoids|access-date=January 5, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100102050757/http://statoids.com/ybj.html| archive-date= 2 January 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> In 2008 there was an estimated 24,917 living in the main town.<ref name="World Gazetteer">{{cite web|url=http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gpro&lng=en&des=wg&geo=-35&srt=npan&col=abcdefghinoq&msz=1500&pt=c&va=&geo=364662244|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209121612/http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gpro&lng=en&des=wg&geo=-35&srt=npan&col=abcdefghinoq&msz=1500&pt=c&va=&geo=364662244|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 9, 2013|title=Banikoara|access-date=2008-12-21|work=World Gazetteer}}</ref>

==Economy== Most of the population are engaged in agricultural activities followed by trade and handicrafts. 51 024,00 hectares of land are devoted to agriculture, accounting for 7.32% of the total land area.<ref name="Atlasbenin"/> The main crops grown are maize, cotton, sorghum and cowpeas.<ref name="Atlasbenin"/>

Electricity used in Banikora often has to be produced by a generator due to a defective solar system and unreliable mains electricity.<ref name="UNESCO">{{cite web|url=http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=16279&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html|title=Benin-Banikoara|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=January 8, 2010}}</ref> The telephone lines are in poor condition, which makes it difficult to maintain a regular and reliable connection for Internet access.<ref name="UNESCO"/> Banikoara is 60 kilometres from the nearest hard road and its development is hampered by its isolation until infrastructure develops.<ref name="UNESCO"/>

==Media== UNESCO has donated four computers and other equipment and provided an initial two-week training and been responsible for the establishment of a radio station in Banikoara in 1994.<ref name="UNESCO"/> They had provided education to local people in basic IT and Internet skills since February 2002, text processing, photocopying, scanning, printing and photography.<ref name="UNESCO"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Arrondissements of Benin Category:Populated places in the Alibori Department Category:Banikoara