Beninās history has significantly shaped its people today. The territory that is now Benin was created by French colonial conquest in the 19th century. Before that, the area consisted of many powerful, independent states with different languages and cultures. The slave trade had a substantial and deleterious impact on the region, causing the depopulation of certain areas as well as a general militarization of society. Beninās culture today is a blend of French influence and old traditions, especially in the south, with each ethnic group upholding its unique customs.
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