Time Zone |
Africa/Sao_Tome |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+0 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Time Zone |
Africa/Porto-Novo |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+1 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
São Tomé and Príncipe is an island country in west-central Africa, consisting of the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe and the surrounding islets, with the capital, São Tomé, located in the northeastern part of São Tomé. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, about 200 kilometers from the African continent, the country was colonized by Portugal in the 15th century and became independent in 1975, with Portuguese as the official language and an economy based on agriculture (cocoa, palm oil) and tourism. It should be noted that "Java" is not a city or region of the country; Java is the main island of Indonesia, with cities such as Jakarta and Surabaya, and has nothing to do with São Tomé and Príncipe, possibly due to a confusion of names.
Ouidah is an important coastal city in the West African country of Benin, located on the Gulf of Guinea, about 40 kilometers from the economic capital Cotonou. The city is known for its rich historical and cultural heritage, having been one of the central hubs of the African slave trade in the 17th and 19th centuries, known as the "Slave Coast".
Vida retains a large amount of cultural heritage related to Voodoo, and is known as the birthplace of Voodoo, which is celebrated annually on January 10th and attracts visitors from all over the world. The city's famous "Slave Route", a 4-kilometer route from the slave auction house to the "Door of No Return" monument, with its commemorative sculptures, was inscribed on the Tentative List of World Heritage Sites in 1995.
Vida today is a blend of historical memory and modern development, with attractions such as a historical museum in a converted Portuguese fortress and the sacred Temple of the Anaconda. The local economy is based on palm oil production, handicrafts and cultural tourism, and is characterized by handicrafts such as ebony carving and traditional weaving. The city has a population of about 80,000 and retains its colonial architecture and traditional African community structure.