Did anybody pay for PR for the Republic of Benin? If no, then WOW! Since IShowSpeed’s tour in that country, social media has been flooded with Benin this, Benin that.
For years, the Republic of Benin was quietly minding its own business next door to Nigeria, its loud neighbour, but suddenly, everyone is talking admiringly and hoping to visit the country soon.
Benin is small in size and was once the heart of the powerful Kingdom of Dahomey, known for its sophisticated governance, art, and the famous Amazons, an all-female military regiment. 
Under its president, Patrice Talon, Benin has undergone a steady but visible transformation over the last decade. Roads have been rebuilt, cities redesigned, and public services strengthened.
Many visitors say this is not the Benin they knew seven years ago. The country now feels like it is on the same development path as Ethiopia and Rwanda.
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5 Reasons Tourists Are Rushing To The Republic Of Benin
1. Clean streets, calm cities and law-abiding citizens
One of the first things tourists notice is how neat and orderly Benin feels. Streets are clean, and people generally obey the law.
Transportation is simple and efficient. Their roads have clear markings, and there are separate lanes for bikes. Traffic violations are rare, and the chaos common in many large African cities is noticeably absent.
Benin arguably has the best road infrastructure in West Africa.
2. Markets are organised and there are no street vendors
If you live in Lagos or a busy megacity in Africa, you will understand the chaos of street vendors and hawkers on the road assaulting you as you drive.
But the government in this country devised a way to organise the market so traffic is free-flowing and the roads have a clean look.
3. Beaches are free!!!
In the Republic of Benin, beaches are free. This is delightful because, as you know, in some countries, you pay just to see the ocean.
Many neighbourhoods, especially around Cotonou, sit close to the beach, and access is free. The sand is clean, and the atmosphere is calm. For many visitors, this simple closeness to the ocean becomes one of the most memorable parts of their stay.
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4. Culture
One of the reasons IShowSpeed’s tour in Nigeria flopped was because, as much as Lagos is one of its megacities, it barely showcased any traditional tourist-oriented culture. When he got to the Republic of Benin, culture choke!
The organisers took him to their beach and reenacted the historical Dahomey Amazons for him to put them on the map.
He got to learn about the ginormous Amazon Monument.
They took him to their shrine and displayed their colourful masquerades for their guest.
He saw a replica of their ancestral boats that ferried enslaved Africans across the Atlantic.
A tourist coming to Benin wouldn’t be bored for a day.
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5. Reliable power and water
Electricity in Benin is one of its biggest surprises. The national grid is so reliable that residents can go months without a single outage. There are no generators humming through the night.
Water is equally impressive. Every home has access to safe, government-supplied drinking water, complete with meters for proper billing.
Overall, American streamer IShowSpeed’s visit pushed Benin into global view. His livestream showed clean streets, calm neighbourhoods and beautiful coastal scenes.
Yet many locals and visitors insist the stream barely captured Benin’s full beauty. The country’s serenity, architecture, and everyday order are best experienced in person.
And the way it’s looking, Detty December might be in Cotonou at this rate. Apparently, flying to Cotonou from the UK or US is way cheaper than Lagos.
So if you are looking for calm, serenity, and culture, you should definitely visit Benin.
Will you be visiting soon?
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