Zagnanado

Zagnanado is a town, arrondissement, and commune in Zou Department, southern-central Benin, about 47 km from Abomey and roughly 165 km north of Cotonou. The commune covers about 750 km² and had a population of around 132,400 at the 2013 census. It is divided into six arrondissements — Agonlin-Houégbo, Banami, Don-Tan, Dovi, Kpedekpo, and Zagnanado — containing 27 villages and 7 city districts, and is bordered by Dassa-Zoumè to the north, Ouinhi and Zogbodomey to the south, Covè, Za-Kpota, and Djidja to the west, and Adja-Ouèrè and Kétou to the east. The population is predominantly Mahi (about 90.5%) with a Yoruba minority (about 8.1%).

Zagnanado is reached by road from Bohicon, the department's main transport hub. Shared bush taxis and zemidjan (motorcycle taxis) cover the route; schedules and fares are informal and not centrally published.

Walking within the town; shared taxi or motorcycle to reach the outlying arrondissements.

Market days and walks through the surrounding villages are the main activities for a rural commune of this kind.

Bottled water and soft drinks are available locally; palm wine is produced in the region.

Produce, maize, and basic provisions at local markets.

• Covè — Neighbouring commune to the west.
• Bohicon — Zou department's main transport hub, with onward connections.
• Cotonou — Benin's economic capital, further south.