THE FLAG

 

The flag of Benin is composed of two horizontal bands: yellow (top) and red, marked by a green band of equal width on the spear side.
The meaning of the colors is explained in Benin's national anthem, L'Aube Nouvelle: green recalls hope, red the courage of the ancestors, and yellow indicates omen.
It was adopted on November 16, 1959, and first used on August 1, 1960. It was abandoned in 1975 during the Marxist-Leninist period (1972-1989), then reused on August 1, 1990.

 

​

 

​

​

​

THE COAT OF ARMS

​​

The coat of arms of the Republic of Benin was readopted in 1990 after being replaced between 1975 and 1990.

Blazon: Quarterly, first quarter argent, a traditional fort (Tata somba) or with four pavilioned towers; second quarter argent, the cross of the Order of the Black Star of Benin, a symbol of life; third quarter argent, a coconut tree vert fruited proper, recalling the heroes; fourth quarter argent, a three-masted ship, evocative of European penetration into the country. The shield is supported by two speckled panthers proper, ensigned by two cornucopias sable (black) filled with corn, and placed on a scroll bearing the motto of Benin: "FRATERNITY - JUSTICE - WORK."

 

​

 

​

​

​

THE SEAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF BENIN

 

The State Seal, consisting of a disc 120 millimeters in diameter, depicts:

On the obverse, a canoe loaded with six five-pointed stars sailing on waves, accompanied at the top by a bow with a palm arrow supported by two recades in saltire and, at the bottom, a banner bearing the motto "FRATERNITY - JUSTICE - WORK" with, around it, the inscription "Republic of Benin"; and

On the reverse, a shield divided into the first vert, the second gold and gules, which are the three colors of the flag, the shield surrounded by two palm leaves proper, the stems crossed in saltire.

​

 

​

​

​

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF BENIN

 

The Constitution of December 11, 1990, was adopted to ensure political stability in Benin and to establish a pluralistic democracy and the rule of law.

​

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM: THE NEW DAWN

 

The New Dawn is the national anthem of Benin. It was written and composed by Father Gilbert Jean DAGNON and adopted upon Dahomey's independence in 1960.

When Dahomey was renamed the Republic of Benin in 1975, the national anthem was retained, but the occurrences of the words Dahomey and Dahomean were replaced in the text with Benin and Beninese, respectively, which explains why some of these alexandrines now have... eleven syllables! Lyrics:

​

1er COUPLET :

​

Jadis à son appel, nos aïeux, sans faiblesse
Ont su avec courage, ardeur, pleins d’allégresse
Livrer au prix du sang des combats éclatants
Accourez-vous aussi, bâtisseurs du présent,
Plus forts dans l’unité, chaque jour à la tâche,
Pour la postérité, construisez sans relâche.

​

Refrain :

​

Enfants du Bénin debout !
La liberté d’un cri sonore
Chante aux premiers feux de l’aurore
Enfants du Bénin, debout !

​

2ème COUPLET :

​

Quand partout souffle un vent de colère et de haine
Béninois, sois fier, et d’une âme sereine,
Confiant dans l’avenir, regarde ton drapeau
Dans le vert tu liras l’espoir du renouveau ;
De tes aïeux le rouge évoque le courage ;
Des plus riches trésors le jaune est le présage.

au refrain

​

3ème COUPLET :

​

Tes monts ensoleillés, tes palmiers, ta verdure,
Cher Bénin, partout font ta vive parure.
Ton sol offre à chacun la richesse des fruits.
Bénin, désormais que tes fils tous unis,
D’un fraternel élan partagent l’espérance.
De te voir à jamais heureux dans l’abondance.