Figure 1.-- Here we see Benin Scoutssometime during the 1960s. Notice that rather than short pants, the boys wear colorful wrap-around skirts with the or scout berets and shirts.

Benin has a small Scout and Guide movement. We still know very little about Scouting in Benin, but have begun to acquire some basic facts. Hopefully our Benin Scouters will provide some information about their activities. Scouting was founded in Benin (1932). Benin at the time was the French colony of Dahomney. This wa a European creation as frontiers cut across traditioal tribal boundaries. Benin achieved independence (1960). Benin Scouts joined the WOSM after independence (1964). Benin for a time became a Marxist republic which must have discouraged the Scouting movement, but we have few details. We notice Boy Scouts stamps so at other times the Scouting movement was approved by the Government. The movement had a small menbership of about 6,500 Scouters (2010). There are two Scout and Guide associations in Benin. The Guides du Bénin are a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Scoutisme Béninois is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. There appears to be some connections with the much larger Scouting movement in Nigeria. Here tribal afiliations are of some importance. Scouting is a largely middle class movement. This is the case not only in Benin, but in other countries as well. We note Benin Scouts working with Cub-age boys in tribal areas during the 1950s. We do not know how successful they were with expanding the movement. We do not have much information on the Benin Scout uniform. Notice that rather than short pants, the boys here wear colorful wrap-around skirts with the or scout berets and shirts (figure 1). We also see Benin Scouts wearing more traditional uniforms. The beret was a popular headwear itm worn s part of the uniform.

History

Scouting was founded in Benin (1932). Benin at the time was the French colony of Dahomney. This wa a European creation as frontiers cut across traditioal tribal boundaries. Benin achieved independence (1960). Benin Scouts joined the WOSM after independence (1964).

Government Role

Benin for a time became a Marxist republic which must have discouraged the Scouting movement, but we have few details. We notice Boy Scouts stamps so at other times the Scouting movement was approved by the Government.

Size

The movement had a small menbership of about 6,500 Scouters (2010).

Associations

There are two Scout and Guide associations in Benin. The Guides du Bénin are a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Scoutisme Béninois is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. There appears to be some connections with the much larger Scouting movement in Nigeria. Here tribal afiliations are of some importance.

Membership

Scouting is a largely middle class movement. This is the case not only in Benin, but in other countries as well. The small size of the middle-ckass in Benin, limited the size of the movement. We note Benin Scouts working with Cub-age boys in tribal areas during the 1950s. They appear to be participating in a camping activity. Unfortunately we do not have any details about the phootograph. We do not know if this was an isolated event or an important effort by Benin Scouts. As the image is labeled Dahomney Scouts it may have been taken during the colonial period in the 1950s, just before independence.

Uniform

We do not know how successful they were with expanding the movement. We do not have much information on the Benin Scout uniform. Notice that rather than short pants, the boys here wear colorful wrap-around skirts with the or scout berets and shirts (figure 1). We also see Benin Scouts wearing more traditional uniforms. The beret was a popular headwear itm worn s part of the uniform.