Benin stretches from a narrow Atlantic coastline into a landscape of lagoons, low forests, and inland towns where water and land often blend into one another. Along the coast, Cotonou moves as the country’s main hub for trade and transport, with markets, roadways, and the port forming a constant flow of activity. Not far away, lake communities and smaller towns are built around fishing, waterways, and daily movement by canoe rather than road. Coastal towns like Ouidah reflect the country’s role in regional trade networks over several centuries, while inland areas preserve long-standing local traditions that remain part of everyday life. Across regions, daily routines are closely tied to the land, water, and movement between them.