The African Venice

According to scientists, the age of Ganvie more than 5 hundred years. It is even called the African Venice, and the first inhabitants justified their floating houses on the basis of net requirements. In the early 17th century this place was called Dahomey — it was one of the most powerful States in West Africa. The main ethnic and linguistic group, there was a Background, make a deal with the Portuguese.





Instead of having to give up slavery of their own people, they signed with the Portuguese contract, which was hunted and sold into the slavery of people from other smaller tribes. The soldiers in the Background were very numerous and strong, none of the smaller ethnic groups have not been able to protect themselves from their attacks. Then one of the people Tofinu think of a good way to protect floating home on the lake.





It is not known who exactly, but a wise man decided to use his defence of the religious beliefs of their enemy. According to the religion Background they had no right to attack the enemy on the water. Settlement Ganvie was founded as a way to avoid attack and capture into slavery. A huge lake, Nokwe became home to an entire people.





It is not surprising that rescue was the basis of the city name translated from the local language Ganvie means "We are alive".Since then, the city settled on the lake, becoming a regular spot on a map and gathered around him a culture. Of course, the overall level of poverty in the country is not prosperous village, but in General the standard of living of the local people is much higher than in other parts of Benin.





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