Parakou

Sister cities

• Orléans

History

The city was founded in the 16th century by traders. In the 18th century Parakou, like much of the surrounding region, came under the rule of princes from Nikki. The defeat of the Nikki-led invasion of Ilorin in 1837 and death of its king gave Parakou and the other vassals an opportunity to seize more control over trade and increase their political independence. The Anglo-French Convention of 1898 divided the Borgu federation in two. Parakou became the main administrative center of the half that was joined to French Dahomey.

Most-observed species

• Mudar

  Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T.Aiton · Magnoliopsida
  41
• Mexican Poppy

  Argemone mexicana L. · Magnoliopsida
  33
• Neem

  Azadirachta indica A.Juss. · Magnoliopsida
  9
• kao

  Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. · Magnoliopsida
  8
• Billygoat-weed, Chick weed, Goatweed, Whiteweed

  Ageratum conyzoides L. · Magnoliopsida
  8
• Laughing Dove

  Spilopelia senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  8
• Pignut

  Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze · Magnoliopsida
  7
• gomphrena-weed

  Gomphrena celosioides Mart. · Magnoliopsida
  6