on August 1, 1960, Dahomey (now known as Benin) officially gained its independence from France. This was part of a broader wave of independence movements across Africa during that time. The country’s independence came after years of colonial rule by the French, and the first president of Dahomey was Hubert Maga. The nation’s independence was a significant moment in the history of West Africa, as many former colonies across the continent were gaining freedom during the same period. Independence was also celebrated in Niger (August 3), Upper Volta (August 5), Ivory Coast (August 8), Chad (August 11), Congo Brazzaville (August 15), Gabon (August 17), and Senegal (August 20).
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