Kpomassè

Kpomassè [kpɔ.ma.sɛ] is a town, arrondissement, and commune in the Atlantique Department of southern Benin. The commune covers an area of 305 square kilometres and as of 2002 had a population of 57,190 people.^[1][2]

Kpomassè, like many areas of Benin, is home to a constituent monarchy.^[3]

Kpomassè lies west of Ouidah and south of Allada in the Atlantique Department. The commune’s western side borders Lake Ahémé and related channels, which directly shape settlement patterns and livelihoods in several arrondissements (notably Sègbohoué and Tokpa-Domè).^[4][5] The local environment features low relief on the Sakété plateau with weakly ferralitic soils, natural palm groves and wooded savanna; small rivers and marshes drain into the lagoonal complex connected to Lake Ahémé.^[6] y

The climate is sub-tropical with two rainy seasons (roughly March–July and September–November) and two dry seasons; average annual rainfall typically ranges between ~900 and 1,100 mm in the department.^[7][8]

Kpomassè is one of eight communes that constitute the Atlantique Department.^[9] It is subdivided into nine arrondissements (see lead), with local government headquartered in Kpomassè-Centre. Administrative sources list 76 villages and urban districts under the commune’s jurisdiction.^[10]

The 2013 census (RGPH-4) counted 67,648 residents in the commune.^[11] Religious affiliation is diverse; ANCB reporting indicates the presence of traditional religions, including Vodoun Christianity and Islam, with traditional practices historically representing a substantial share of the population.^[12]

The economy is largely informal and oriented toward fishing, fish farming, market gardening and oil-palm related activities, with trading and transport services along the lagoonal routes. The proximity to Lake Ahémé underpins artisanal fisheries and aquaculture; regional studies describe a diversity of gears and highlight regulatory issues around lagoon fisheries.^[13][14][15] Department-level labour statistics also show high informal-sector participation in Atlantique.^[16]

Kpomassè is noted for Vodun-related practices and festivals (e.g., Zangbéto “night guardians”, Egungun, Oro), palace traditions, sacred groves and historical sites around Sègbohoué and neighbouring lake communities, which contribute to local identity and tourism potential.^[17]

Parts of the commune are served by a lagoon/riverine network connected to Lake Ahémé (“route des pêches”), and by road links to nearby centres including Ouidah and Allada; localities such as Sègbohoué function as transit points between lake and road transport.^[18]

Like many areas of southern Benin, Kpomassè maintains are monarchies and royal courts at arrondissement level (e.g., Dékanmè, Sègbohoué), which play ceremonial and customary roles within the national administrative framework.^[19]

6°24′N 1°58′E / 6.400°N 1.967°E / 6.400; 1.967