Seven souls, four sisters and three brothers in the faith of Jesus, were baptized in Cotonou, the largest city and seat of government of the Republic of Benin, West Africa, on Sabbath, June 27, 2026, by Elder irene Sonagnon Nahum, Vice-President of Benin Mission Field, Elder Finagnon Bruno Allamon who prepared the souls for the baptism confirmed today, on June 29, 2026.
Benin, earlier known as Dahomey, has a total area of 112,622 square kilometers (43,484 sq mi), while its population reached almost 13 million in 2021. France took over the country in 1894, adding it to French West Africa under the name French Dahomey. On August 1, 1960, Dahomey gained full independence from France, however, a Marxist-Leninist state called People’s Republic of Benin (renamed on March 1, 1990, after the Bight of Benin which borders the country) existed between 1975 and 1990, but in 1991 it was replaced by the multi-party Republic of Benin. The country is divided into twelve departments (as in 1999 the former six departments were each split into two-halves) which are subdivided into 77 communes.
Written by Margarit Zhekov
The seven baptized souls together with Elder Finagnon Bruno Allamon and Elder Irene Sonagnon Nahum; a photo from the archive of Elder Finagnon Bruno Allamon.
