Bight of Benin
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[[Image:Gulf of Guinea (English).jpg|thumb|right|350px|Map of the Gulf of Guinea showing the Bight of Benin.]]
The '''Bight of Benin''' is a [[bight (geography)|bight]] (a type of bay) on the western African coast that extends eastward for about 400 miles (640 km) from Cape St. Paul to the Nun outlet of the [[Niger River]]. To the east it is continued by the [[Bight of Bonny]] (formerly Bight of Biafra). The bight is part of the [[Gulf of Guinea]].
On [[December 25]], [[2003]], [[UTA Flight 141]] crashed in the Bight.
==Cultural references==
The Bight of Benin is known for its fearsome [[tides]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}} and has a long association with [[slavery]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}}.
An old rhyme says ''Beware, beware the Bight of the Benin, for few come out though many go in.'' A variation goes ''Beware beware, the Bight of Benin: one comes out, where fifty went in!'' This is said to be a [[slavery jingle]] about the risk of disease in the Bight. A third version of the couplet is "''Beware and take care of the Bight of Benin. For one as comes out, there's ten as goes in.''"{{Fact|date=July 2008}}
The author [[Philip McCutchan]] has written a book titled "Beware, beware the Bight of Benin."
A [[short story]] by [[Elizabeth Coatsworth]], "The Forgotten Island" (1942), deals with a treasure from Benin. The rhyme is also mentioned.
In [[Patrick O'Brian|Patrick O'Brian's]] novel [[The Commodore (novel)|The Commodore]] (1996), Dr. Maturin recites the rhyme when he learned of his ship's destination. Commodore Aburey checks him, telling him it is bad luck to say that out loud on the way in.
In 2007, a collection of short stories entitled '''The Bight of Benin: Short Fiction''' by Kelly J. Morris was published by AtacoraPress.com. The stories are set in Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.
==History==
On [[1 February]] [[1852]] the British established the Bight of Benin British [[protectorate]], under the authority of [[Consul (representative)|Consul]]s of the Bight of Benin:
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
!Term !!Protectorate
|- align="center"
|May 1852 – 1853 ||Louis Fraser
|- align="center"
|1853 – April 1859 ||Benjamin Campbell
|- align="center"
|April 1859 – 1860 ||George Brand
|- align="center"
|1860 – January 1861 ||Henry Hand
|- align="center"
|January 1861 – May 1861 ||Henry Grant Foote
|- align="center"
|May 1861 – [[6 August]] [[1861]] ||William McCoskry (acting)
|}
On [[6 August]] [[1861]] the [[Bight of Biafra protectorate]] (see there for their common further history) and Bight of Benin protectorate were joined as a united British protectorate, ultimately to be merged into Nigeria
==References==
*[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Nigeria.htm#Southern-Nigeria WorldStatesmen- Southern Nigeria]
[[Category:Bays of the Atlantic Ocean]]
{{Togo-geo-stub}}
{{Ghana-geo-stub}}
{{Benin-geo-stub}}
{{Nigeria-geo-stub}}
[[cv:Бенин кӳлмекĕ]]
[[de:Bucht von Benin]]
[[es:Ensenada de Benín]]
[[id:Teluk Benin]]
[[is:Benínflói]]
[[nl:Baai van Benin]]
[[ja:ベニン湾]]
[[no:Beninbukta]]
[[ru:Бенин (залив)]]
[[zh:贝宁湾]]