Lying in Lake Nokoué, near Cotonou is Ganvie; the largest floating village in Africa with a population of around 35,000.
The 115 square kilometers community was visited by delegates led by Amb. Ikechi Uko as part Accra Weizo 4-nations Road trip.
Accra Weizo is a travel expo organized by Akwaaba African Travel Market in partnership with Ghana Tourism Authority that seeks to grow seamless travel in West Africa.
The delegates which included Nigeria, Ghana and Benin tour operators were well received by Amb. Dine Bouraima, who is the President of the Consortium Touristes Par Millions Au Benin, a leading tourism organization in Benin Republic.
The floating village situated in the middle of Lake Nokoué, is known for having houses, banks, restaurants, markets, hotels, schools, and religious spaces all on stilts. The stilts of traditional houses are crafted with red ebony wood, which is resistant to weathering, while the walls are made with bamboo and palm fronds.
According to the Tour guide, the village was established in 1717 after a conflict between the Ajatado and Abomey Kingdoms. During the rainy season, the lake can depths of 3 to 4 meters and 1 and half meters during the dry season. The lake is filled with speedboats and canoes laden with people and goods, going about their daily activities.
The men engage in fishing while the women sell the fishes at the local market. Some of the people have fish farms, which allows the fishes to grow bigger. Local mangrove species, such as palm fronds, are anchored into the lake bed and are further surrounded by bamboo sticks to form cages. The palm fronds decompose, creating plankton, while the wood acts as a catalyst for algae growth, attracting fish to feed and live within the environment. According to the tour guide, Lovers Street is a popular spot in the village which is demarcated by vibrant blue and red buoys.
Ganvié also boasts of social status as seen in most of the houses. Those with financial means live in what are considered modern houses, while others reside in more modest structures. The village chief is in charge of assigning and selling ‘plots of water’ to prospective landlords. From birth, the children are taught to swim and they grow up to exceptional swimmers. Each family owns at least 3 canoes.
The community also has an artificial land, where the children are taught to walk and for domesticating animals. The village was recognized as a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO in 1996, attracting up to 10,000 visitors annually. The trip to Ganvie was made possible by Amb. Dine Bouraima who is also the Director General of Benin Royal Hotel. So next time you are in Benin Republic, be sure to visit the Venice of Africa.
