Dantokpa

The gone Dantopka is located in the economic capital of the Bénin Cotonou, it in the open air shelters the largest market of West Africa.

Located in edge of the Lake Nokoué on its western bank, with the entry of the new bridge of Cotonou which separates North and the South from the Beninese economic capital.

The fame of the market is sous-régionale even international. International because of many tradesmen of West Africa (Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Ivory Coast) and of central Africa in particular of the Cameroun, find themselves on this large market to make deals there.

Artisanal products food, products and manufactured goods are found there. All in all all that can be bought or sold. The majority of the salesmen of Dantopka are women. They are specialized in printed fabrics, the cosmetic products, the liquors, the rough or processed agricultural produce. What makes of Dantopka, one of the major poles of sous-régionale attraction is especially the trade of printed fabrics, celebrates it Wax Dutch

The market is located on the holy boulevard Michel.

The tradesmen Nigerians come to supply themselves there. The women Cameroun eases and of the Ivory Coast, says one, appreciate Topka for the quality of the jewels. Model of sous-régionale integration, celebrates it gone is also a true commercial platform where exchanges itself with the black, will naira it, the currency Nigerian. Dantokpa means in language Fon " on the edges of the lagoon of daN ". DaN is, according to the beliefs Beninese animists, a divinity represented by the snake, god of prosperity and abundance. A fetish whose furnace bridge is still within the market.

This great complex, initially of 13 hectares builds in 1963, reaches 18 hectares today and invades the neighbouring dwellings. It is managed by the Management company of the markets (Sogema), an organization which depends on the Beninese ministry of the Interior. It succeeded the old Tokpa market located close to the old bridge. It consists of a large principal building of 66 m out of 44 out of three levels and of 1100 places made up of " boxes" to rent and of shops. Are grafted at the principal building of the hangars and " apatams" (small straw huts) built by the food product sellers which offer nearly 5.000 places. From the multitude which the market knows, of the security issues arise as well as problems of healthiness.

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