On the West African coast, exploring the rituals of vodun, Benin’s ancient religion.

WE were driving through the back alleys of Ouidah, a sultry former slave port in the West African nation of Benin, when we spotted him: a figure in robes and leather gloves. His face was hidden by a burlap hood studded with beads and cowrie shells.

Last year Benin announced free treatment for malaria, and has now followed up by cracking down on fake drugs and recruiting an army of outreach health workers In the markets of west Africa, malaria drugs are on sale as openly as oranges and bananas. Trader Simone Adechinan claims to know her stuff. "With these," she says, producing a beige box marked Chloroquine Phosphate, "you want to take six ...

Former France international fullback Manuel Amoros has been handed a two-year deal to take charge of Benin, officials said on Tuesday.

Polo Resources Limited ("Polo" or "the Company") - Polo increases interest in Signet Petroleum Ltd

The Guardian's "Poverty Matters Blog" examines how the government of Benin "is making headway in attempts to reduce deaths from malaria" by cracking down on counterfeit treatments, offering malaria treatment free-of-charge in public clinics and hospitals, and creating "an army of ordinary citizens in the battle against preventable diseases like malaria."

Daily Trust (Abuja)-President Goodluck Jonathan lost his bid to become chairman of the African Union yesterday when the West African bloc announced the selection of Benin Republic president Thomas Boni Yayi for the post.

An ambitious African heritage project which has received around £50,000 in National Lottery Funding was launched by West Ham MP Lyn Brown in the House of Commons last week.

AIM (Maputo)-The Assembly of heads of state and government of the African Union (AU) on Sunday elected the President of Benin, Boni Yayi, as the new chairperson of the AU.

RNW Africa (Hilversum)-Benin President Thomas Boni Yayi was elected the African Union Chairman on Sunday, taking over the one-year post from Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, officials said.