Songhai Centre is an agroecology farm-school located in Porto-Novo, the administrative capital of Benin. Across 22 hectares, this site trains thousands of young Africans each year in sustainable agriculture, food processing and renewable energies. For visitors, it offers a chance to observe an integrated agricultural model recognized across the region.

Why visit Songhai Centre?

Songhai Centre is not a theme park or a traditional museum: it is an active agricultural site, open to the public as a form of rural tourism. The visit appeals to several types of visitors:

• Curious travellers keen to understand how West Africa is experimenting with large-scale organic agriculture.
• Professionals in agronomy, international development, or sustainable development.
• Families and school groups interested in environmental issues.
• Travellers stopping over in Porto-Novo who wish to complement a cultural visit to the city with a more rural experience.

In 2008, the United Nations recognized Songhai Centre as a Centre of Excellence for sustainable agriculture in the region, making it one of the country's leading sites on this subject.

History and origins of Songhai Centre

The Centre was founded in 1985 by Father Godfrey Nzamujo, a Nigerian Dominican priest trained in the United States in applied sciences and development. His aim: to demonstrate that productive, ecological and job-creating African agriculture is possible, drawing on local resources.

The name "Songhai" references the Songhai empire, a West African power that flourished between the 15th and 16th centuries along the Niger river basin. This symbolic link roots the project in a longer African history, rather than in an imported model.

From Porto-Novo, the centre expanded to other cities in Benin (Parakou, Savalou, Kinwédji) and then to several countries in the sub-region: Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone. Today it trains thousands of young people each year in agriculture, livestock, fishing, agro-industry and renewable energies.

What to see and do?

Songhai Centre's activities are organized around five hubs, which you visit successively.

The Production hub

Market gardens, orchards, livestock (poultry, pigs, fish, snails) and beekeeping coexist in the same space. The site applies organic practices without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, operating on a circular economy model: waste from one workshop becomes the input for another.

The Processing hub

Agricultural products are processed on-site into juices, jams, wines, vinegars, syrups, flours, gari, breads, biscuits, oils and soaps. Everything is marketed under the Songhai brand, whose products you'll find in the site's shop.

The Research and Innovation hub

A laboratory, library and documentation centre support the work of teams and trainees. This is where the techniques that are later disseminated to regional branches are developed.

The Training and Incubation hub

Young agricultural entrepreneurs follow courses combining theory, practice and business creation support. This aspect is of particular interest to visitors who come to understand the educational model.

The Rural Tourism hub

This is the hub that welcomes visitors: guided tours of the facilities, agroecology awareness-raising, accommodation, dining and seminar room rentals.

Practical information

• Visit duration: allow 1.5 to 3 hours for a guided tour of the main hubs, longer if you take a meal on site.
• Opening days: Monday to Saturday. It's best to check exact opening hours before visiting.
• Entrance fee: modest admission price, with reduced rates for children.
• Booking: recommended for groups of more than 20 people; a prior call ensures an English-speaking guide.
• Language: tours are conducted mainly in French.
• On site: accommodation, restaurant serving dishes made with centre products, and direct sales shop.

How to get to Songhai Centre?

Songhai Centre is located in Porto-Novo, approximately 30 km east of Cotonou. From Cotonou, take the N1 national highway connecting the two cities. The journey by taxi or private vehicle typically takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour 15 minutes depending on traffic. Once in Porto-Novo, taxis, buses and zémidjans (motorcycle taxis) serve the site, which is well known to local drivers.

What to see nearby

Porto-Novo and its surroundings offer several interesting extensions to a visit to Songhai Centre:

• Adjarra, renowned for its market and traditional drum craftsmanship, immediately nearby Porto-Novo.
• The Egungun dance, a living ritual performance from south-eastern Benin.
• Further north, the Atakora mountains and the Tanougou waterfalls to extend your journey towards the country's natural landscapes.

Frequently asked questions

Integrating Songhai Centre into your trip

Songhai Centre fits easily into a circuit in southern Benin, complementing Porto-Novo, Cotonou, Ouidah or Ganvié. To build a custom itinerary including this stop, consult our Benin travel suggestions.