Adja-Ouèrè

Adja-Ouèrè [a.dʒa.wɛ.ʁɛ] is a town, arrondissement, and commune in the Plateau Department of south-eastern Benin. The commune covers an area of 550 square kilometres and as of 2013 had a population of 115,953 people.^[1]

Adja-Ouèrè
Commune and city
Adja-Ouèrè Location in Benin
Coordinates: 7°0′N 2°37′E
Country	Benin
Department	Plateau Department
Government
• Mayor	Cyrille ADEGBOLA
Area
• Total	210 sq mi (550 km2)
Population  (2013)
• Total	115,953
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)

Geography

Adja-Ouèrè is a town and commune in the Plateau Department of south-eastern Benin. The commune covers an area of approximately 550 square kilometres.^[2] It lies north of Porto-Novo and forms part of the Plateau Department, bordering neighbouring communes within the department. The territory combines plateau zones (altitude generally between 50 and 200 m) and lower depressions connected to the Lama corridor; hydrology includes seasonal streams and small valleys used for agriculture.^[2]

Administrative divisions

The commune is subdivided into six arrondissements: Adja-Ouèrè, Ikpinlè, Kpoulou, Massè, Oko-Akarè and Tatonnonkon, which together encompass dozens of villages and urban quarters.^[3]

Population

According to the 2013 General Population and Housing Census (RGPH-4), the commune had 115,953 inhabitants.^[4] Citypopulation reproduces the same RGPH figures and provides trend tables for the commune.^[5] The population is ethnically diverse and includes Nagot, Holli, Mahi, Adja, Fon and Goun communities, among others.^[2]

History

Local oral traditions and historical monographs indicate that Adja-Ouèrè was founded by groups originating from the Adja (Tado) cultural area; the toponym reflects this origin in combination with local place-names. The town developed as a rural-urban centre for surrounding agricultural zones and gradually became the prefecture seat of the Plateau Department following administrative reorganizations in the late 20th century.^[2]

Economy

The economy of Adja-Ouèrè is predominantly agricultural. Major food crops include maize, cassava, yam, maize, tomato and vegetables; cash crops include cotton and oil palm. The commune also practices livestock rearing (poultry, small ruminants) and artisanal activities such as pottery, basketry and weaving.^[2][6] Proximity to the Nigerian border and to regional markets supports informal cross-border trade.^[5]

Infrastructure and services

The commune hosts basic infrastructure typical of plateau prefectures: primary and secondary schools, health centres, and local markets. Recent rural electrification and road projects have been reported in departmental planning documents and development project reports.^[7]

Culture and heritage

Artisanal crafts—vannerie (basketry), pottery, textile weaving and wood sculpture—are well established in Adja-Ouèrè and form part of local cultural identity. The commune celebrates traditional festivals and maintains sacred sites linked to Adja and related cultural practices.^[2]

Governance

Adja-Ouèrè is administered by a municipal council and a mayor (communal executive) under Benin's decentralization framework. The CCP listing indicates the commune’s governance structures and the number of communal council seats.^[3]

Notable people

• **Sefou (Séfou) Fagbohoun** — businessman and politician originally from Adja-Ouèrè; founder/president of the political movement MADEP and former member of the National Assembly. His activities in business and politics have been covered in national press and court records related to events in the 2000s.^[8][9]