Benin: government sets up a commission dedicated to toponymy and national memory

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The Council of Ministers on Wednesday announced the creation of a commission in charge of toponymy and national memory, an instrument designed to rebalance the collective narrative and further anchor the country’s heroes in the public consciousness.

The goal is to align national memory so it accurately reflects the lives, struggles and contributions of the individuals who shaped the country.

The government wishes to reposition the names assigned to streets, places and public spaces within a dynamic that combines historical truth, social cohesion and shared pride. This approach builds on major initiatives already undertaken, notably the return of cultural property, the erection of the statues of Bio Guéra and l’Amazone, and the construction of the Monument aux Dévoués in Cotonou.

The new commission, made up of experts from several disciplines, will be responsible for developing a memory map based on a rigorous and inclusive methodology. It will have to propose names that reflect the country’s major figures and landmark events, while ensuring coherence between local realities and national memory.

Local authorities, educational institutions and cultural communities will be involved in the process, in order to ensure citizens’ support and participation.

The commission will also be tasked with designing awareness-raising activities about the meaning and importance of the names assigned, and with supporting commemorative projects such as monuments, museums, memory gardens and dedicated spaces.

To give substance to this reform, the Council of Ministers adopted decrees concerning the creation, missions, composition and functioning of the commission, and then proceeded to appoint its members.

This new structure marks an important step forward in building a more harmonious and confident national narrative, serving the collective memory and Beninese identity.