Fon people

The Fon people, or Fon nu, are a major West African ethnic and linguistic group in the country of Benin, and southwest Nigeria, made up of more than 3,500,000 people.

The Fon language is the main language spoken in Southern Benin, and is a member of the Gbe language group.

The Fon are said to originate from Tado, a village in south east Togo, near the border with Benin.The culture is patrilineal and allows polygamy and divorce.

Funerals (and anniversaries of deaths) are among the most important cultural events, with mourning activities including drumming and dancing often lasting for days.

The Fon believe that part of the person dies and part is reincarnated.Most Fon today live in villages and small towns in mud houses with corrugated iron gable roofs.

Cities built by the Fon include Abomey, the historical capital city of Dahomey, and Ouidah on the Slave Coast.

These cities are major commercial centers for the slave trade.

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