Lokossa

Lokossa [lɔ.kɔ.sa] is an arrondissement, commune, and the capital city of Mono Department in Benin. The name Lokossa translates into English as "underneath the iroko tree".^{[citation needed]}

Lokossa
Commune and city
A women's rights march in Lokossa
Lokossa Location in Benin
Coordinates: 6°38′N 1°43′E
Country	Benin
Department	Mono Department
Government
• Mayor	Amavi Gervais HOUNKPE HOUENOU
Area
• Total	260 km2 (100 sq mi)
Elevation	64 m (210 ft)
Population  (2012)[1]
• Total	106,081
• Density	410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)

The commune covers an area of 260 square kilometres (100 sq mi) and as of 2002 had a population of 77,065 people.^[2][3]

Etymology

Local oral traditions associate the name "Lokossa" with the expression meaning “under the iroko tree,” an allusion to a significant tree under which early settlements would gather. Although widely cited in regional narratives, this interpretation is not formally attested in academic linguistic studies.^[4]

Geography

Lokossa is situated in a transitional ecological zone between coastal sandy soils and inland hydromorphic depressions. Its location between Comè to the south and Athiémé to the west allows it to serve as a regional crossing point between the Mono River basin and the road corridors linking the Mono to the Atlantique Department.^[5] The terrain includes low-lying flood-prone zones, which play an important role in agricultural patterns and dry-season vegetable cultivation.

Administration

Lokossa hosts the prefecture of the Mono Department along with most regional administrative institutions, including health, education and judicial services. The commune is subdivided into arrondissements and village communities following Benin’s decentralization framework.^[6]

Economy

The economy of Lokossa is shaped by both agricultural production and the service sector. Cassava, maize, palm oil and market-garden crops dominate rural activities, while the town itself hosts a dense commercial network structured around the Lokossa central market. Researchers have noted that regional agricultural productivity, particularly in maize seed distribution, faces challenges related to limited coordination between producers and policy institutions in southern Benin, including Lokossa.^[7] Market infrastructure plays a central role in the urban economy. A study on market networks in Lokossa highlights the centrality of the main market, which concentrates a high volume of trade and serves as a redistribution point for agricultural and manufactured goods across the Mono region.^[8]

Culture

Cultural life in Lokossa reflects the traditions of the Gbe-speaking societies of the Mono region. Ritual practices linked to Vodun deities, seasonal celebrations and initiatory ceremonies associated with the Sahouè and related communities remain central to the town’s identity.^[9] Modern cultural forms—including youth associations, sporting events and popular music—coexist alongside traditional practices, testifying to the commune’s position at the intersection of rural and urban cultural dynamics.

Infrastructure and public services

Lokossa benefits from health and education infrastructures typical of a departmental capital, including public primary and secondary schools, a technical high school and several health centres. Studies on water consumption practices have pointed out that a significant proportion of households do not treat drinking water, contributing to the persistence of waterborne diseases.^[10] Road connections link Lokossa to Comè, Bopa and Athiémé, though secondary rural roads remain affected by rainfall and seasonal flooding. Water-access programmes implemented in recent years aim to improve household access to potable water and sanitation infrastructure.^[11]