The political decision behind one of Africa's most confusing name changes
Dahomey was renamed the People's Republic of Benin on 30 November 1975 under a military government of Marxist-Leninist orientation, then became the Republic of Benin on 1 March 1990. Official sources give the dates, not the motives.
Why did Dahomey become Benin? The short answer is that in 1975 a military government with a declared Marxist-Leninist orientation renamed the state. The longer answer is that the official texts give the dates and the context, but not a list of reasons. This page sticks to what they say and flags what they do not.
The essentials (information checked on 4 October 2026)
- Dahomey was proclaimed a republic on 4 December 1958 and became sovereign on 1 August 1960.
- On 26 October 1972 the army took power again, under Battalion Commander Mathieu Kérékou.
- The country became the People's Republic of Benin on 30 November 1975, then the Republic of Benin on 1 March 1990.
- The preamble of the 1990 Constitution records these dates itself.
Dahomey: republic in 1958, independence in 1960
The preamble of the Constitution of 11 December 1990 gives the chronology. Dahomey was proclaimed a republic on 4 December 1958 and "acceded to international sovereignty" on 1 August 1960. The same text describes a "turbulent" constitutional and political evolution since independence, in which only the choice of the republic remained constant.
The name Dahomey came from the kingdom of that name, whose capital was Abomey. If you are visiting the royal palaces, our guide to the kingdom's history covers that earlier period.
26 October 1972: the army takes power again
The government's history page says that on 26 October 1972 "the Army seized power again, with Battalion Commander Mathieu Kérékou". The word "again" matters: the official account presents 1972 as one more military takeover after several earlier ones. We do not list them or number them here, because the official page does not.
1975: the name changes
According to the same page, the military government made "decisive strategic and ideological choices" in 1975. The Republic of Dahomey was renamed the People's Republic of Benin, and the country declared its adherence to a socialist economy of Marxist-Leninist orientation.
The Constitution's preamble gives the exact date: 30 November 1975.
What the sources do not say
Many web pages list reasons for the choice: a break with colonial history, a name that belonged to no single ethnic group, a rejection of the monarchy. The official texts we checked state none of these. They record the renaming and the ideological turn that went with it, nothing more. Treat any detailed motive you read elsewhere, including the origin of the word "Benin", as an interpretation until you see it in a primary document.
1990: from the National Conference to the Republic of Benin
The Conference of the Forces Vives of the Nation was held in Cotonou from 19 to 28 February 1990. The preamble credits it with national reconciliation and the start of an era of democratic renewal. The government's history page adds that it brought together more than five hundred delegates, was chaired by Bishop Isidore de Souza, and established economic and political liberalism, democracy and the rule of law.
The state dropped the word "People's" shortly after: the preamble states that the country became the Republic of Benin on 1 March 1990. The Constitution was adopted by referendum on 2 December 1990 and promulgated on 11 December 1990 (law no. 90-32).
Frequently asked questions
When did Dahomey become Benin?
On 30 November 1975, as the People's Republic of Benin, according to the preamble of the 1990 Constitution.
When did it become the Republic of Benin?
On 1 March 1990, according to the same preamble.
Who was in power when the name changed?
The army, since the takeover of 26 October 1972 under Battalion Commander Mathieu Kérékou, according to the government's history page.
Why was the name Benin chosen?
The official sources we checked do not say. They record the renaming and the adoption of a Marxist-Leninist orientation in 1975.
Is the Republic of Benin the same state as the old kingdom of Benin?
No. The kingdom of Benin was a different, historic kingdom in present-day Nigeria. The Republic of Benin was Dahomey until 1975, with Abomey as the seat of the old Dahomey kingdom. The sources checked for this page do not cover the Nigerian kingdom, so we leave the comparison to our dedicated page.
Official sources (checked on 4 October 2026)
- Government of Benin, Histoire: coup of 26 October 1972, renaming of 1975, National Conference of February 1990.
- National Assembly of Benin, Constitution of the Republic of Benin, law no. 90-32 of 11 December 1990: preamble with the dates of 1958, 1960, 1975 and 1990, referendum of 2 December 1990.
Continue exploring Benin's history: Dahomey independence · French colonial Dahomey · Where is the kingdom of Dahomey today
Plan your visit
For the country as it is now, our travel guide covers the regions, from Abomey's royal palaces to the coast.