Zou Department

Zou Department anchors Benin's historical identity as the heartland of the Dahomey kingdom, whose slave-trading economy made it one of West Africa's most powerful pre-colonial states. The royal palaces of Abomey, capital of Dahomey from 1625 to 1900, earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 1985. This dark heritage—Dahomey sold an estimated million people into Atlantic slavery—complicates tourism that might otherwise celebrate architectural and cultural achievements.

Cotton cultivation engaged 64% of Zou's farmers before the 1999 split that created Collines Department, establishing agricultural patterns that persist in modified form. The LCB ginnery in Pouipnan processes regional cotton, keeping some value addition within the department. Cotton's decline from peak production in the 1970s-80s reflects both shifting comparative advantage northward and competition from synthetic fibers globally.

The department's central position between coastal lowlands and northern savannas creates transitional ecology suited to diverse agriculture. Maize, cassava, and other food crops complement cash crops, while small-scale livestock production adds protein and income. Zou's relatively dense population and historical urban development (Abomey, Bohicon) create market access that northern departments lack. Whether the Dahomey heritage can support tourism that acknowledges slavery's role in the kingdom's wealth—rather than sanitizing history—remains a challenge for cultural development.