Kérou
Kérou is a town, arrondissement and commune located in the Atakora Department of Benin.The commune covers an area of 3745 square kilometres and as of 2012 had a population of 37,419 people.
Geography
Kérou is located in the northeastern portion of the Atacora department, bordering Burkina Faso to the north. The commune is bounded to the south by Péhunco and Kouandé, to the east by Banikoara and Gogounou, and to the west by Tanguiéta.
The climate is of the Sudan–Guinean type, with a single rainy season and a single dry season.
History
Detailed historical records for Kérou are limited. The area has long been inhabited by ethnic groups such as the Bariba, Gourmantché, Dendi and Peulh, and has served as a frontier zone between present-day Benin and Burkina Faso.
Administration
The commune of Kérou is one of nine communes in the Atacora department. It comprises four arrondissements: Kérou, Brignamaro, Kaobagou and Firou. The current mayor is Herman Imali Djetta.
Demographics
According to the 2013 census, the commune had a total population of 100 197 inhabitants.
Economy
Agriculture is the principal economic activity in Kérou. The main crops include maize, millet, sorghum, yam, cassava and cotton; livestock rearing is also significant.
Infrastructure
The commune faces infrastructural challenges, particularly in the road network during the rainy season. An ongoing government-led project for the bitumage of roads between Djougou, Péhunco, Kérou and Banikoara has been initiated to improve transport and access.
Culture and heritage
The population of Kérou observes traditional festivals linked to the Bariba and Gourmantché ethnic groups and uses local art forms tied to agriculture and pastoral life.