Dassa-Zoumé
Encyclopedia
Dassa-Zoumé, often shortened to Dassa, is a city in Benin
, on the Cotonou
to Parakou
railway and the main north-south highway. The commune covers an area of 1711 square kilometres and as of 2002 had a population of 93,967 people.
The city is known as a place of pilgrimage
, the Virgin Mary said to have appeared in La Grotte Marial Notre Dame d'Arigbo, around which a basilica
has since been built, containing several shrine
s. The city is also known for its surrounding forest
s.
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
, on the Cotonou
Cotonou
-Demographics:*1979: 320,348 *1992: 536,827 *2002: 665,100 *2005: 690,584 The main languages spoken in Cotonou include the Fon language, Aja language, Yoruba language and French.-Transport:...
to Parakou
Parakou
Parakou is the largest city in eastern Benin, with an estimated population of around 188,853 people, and capital of the Borgou Department. The mayor as of 2008 was Samou Seidou Adambi and administratively the commune of Parakou makes up one of Benin's 77 communes.-Economy:Parakou lies on the main...
railway and the main north-south highway. The commune covers an area of 1711 square kilometres and as of 2002 had a population of 93,967 people.
The city is known as a place of pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
, the Virgin Mary said to have appeared in La Grotte Marial Notre Dame d'Arigbo, around which a basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
has since been built, containing several shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
s. The city is also known for its surrounding forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s.