Cotonou, Bénin. La lagune de Ganvié, souvent surnommée la « Venise de l’Afrique », fait face à des menaces environnementales croissantes qui mettent en péril son écosystème unique et les communautés qui en dépendent. Ganvié est une cite lacustre datant du début du 17 éme siècle construite sur le lac Nokoue, près de Cotonou. La légende raconte que les villageois pour fuir les razzias des esclavagistes baptisèrent ces maisons sur pilotis, loin du danger.
Ganvié: A Lagoon in Danger
Cotonou, Benin. The Ganvié Lagoon, often
nicknamed the « Venice of Africa », faces increasing environmental
threats that jeopardize its unique ecosystem and the communities that depend on
it. Ganvié is a lakeside town dating from the beginning of the 17th century
built on Lake Nokoue, near Cotonou. Legend has it that the villagers, to escape
the raids of the slavers, blessed these houses on stilts, far from danger.
2024 (C) Texte et photos: Alexis Duclos
Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024.
Ganvie, la petite venise d afrique est une cite lacustre construite sur le lac Nokoue, au sud du Benin au 18 e siecle. la legende raconte que les villageois fuyaient les esclavagistes. La peche est la principale ressource pour les 40 000 habitants qui vivent sur l’eau et dont le mode de deplacement est la pirogue. Construites sur pilotis, la cité de Ganvié est inscrite au patrimoine mondial de l unesco. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024.Photo shows Emmanuel Manassi Hougogbe, 50 years old uses the cast net technique to fish on the lake. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024. Photo shows Emmanuel Manassi Hougogbe, 50 years old uses the cast net technique to fish on the lake. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024.
Photo shows Emmanuel Manassi Hougogbe, 50 years old uses the cast net technique to fish on the lake. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024.
Photo shows Emmanuel Manassi Hougogbe, 50 years old uses the cast net technique to fish on the lake. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024. Photo shows Emmanuel Manassi Hougogbe, 50 years old uses the cast net technique to fish on the lake. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024. Photo shows Emmanuel Manassi Hougogbe, 50 years and his wife Florence Affin, 28 years. Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024.Photo shows Emmanuel Manassi Hougogbe, 50 years and his wife Florence Affin, 28 years. Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024.
Photo shows Emmanuel Manassi Hougogbe, 50 years Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024.
Photo shows Emmanuel Manassi Hougogbe, 50 years Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024.
Photo shows Emmanuel Manassi Hougogbe, 50 years old fishing with the trap technique Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024.
Photo shows Emmanuel Manassi Hougogbe, 50 years old fishing with the trap technique Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024. Photo shows Emmanuel Manassi Hougogbe, 50 years old fishing with the trap technique Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024. Photo shows Emmanuel Manassi Hougogbe, 50 years and his wifeFlorence Affin, 28 years. Photo show Emmanuel Manassi Hougogbe, 50 years, fisherman. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024.Photo show Emmanuel Manassi Hougogbe, 50 years, fisherman. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024.Picture shows a man pulling out water hyacinths. Water hyacinth invades the lagoon, a real problem for aquatic life. Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Picture shows Water hyacinth invades the lagoon, a real problem for aquatic life. Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Picture shows water transport Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024. Picture shows water transport Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024. Picture shows water transport Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024. Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024. Ganvie, la petite venise d afrique est une cite lacustre construite sur le lac Nokoue, au sud du Benin au 18 e siecle. la legende raconte que les villageois fuyaient les esclavagistes. La peche est la principale ressource pour les 40 000 habitants qui vivent sur l’eau et dont le mode de deplacement est la pirogue. Construites sur pilotis, la cité de Ganvié est inscrite au patrimoine mondial de l unesco. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024.Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024.
Ganvie, la petite venise d afrique est une cite lacustre construite sur le lac Nokoue, au sud du Benin au 18 e siecle. la legende raconte que les villageois fuyaient les esclavagistes. La peche est la principale ressource pour les 40 000 habitants qui vivent sur l’eau et dont le mode de deplacement est la pirogue. Construites sur pilotis, la cité de Ganvié est inscrite au patrimoine mondial de l unesco. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024.Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024. Ganvie, la petite venise d afrique est une cite lacustre construite sur le lac Nokoue, au sud du Benin au 18 e siecle. la legende raconte que les villageois fuyaient les esclavagistes. La peche est la principale ressource pour les 40 000 habitants qui vivent sur l’eau et dont le mode de deplacement est la pirogue. Construites sur pilotis, la cité de Ganvié est inscrite au patrimoine mondial de l unesco. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024.Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024. Ganvie, la petite venise d afrique est une cite lacustre construite sur le lac Nokoue, au sud du Benin au 18 e siecle. la legende raconte que les villageois fuyaient les esclavagistes. La peche est la principale ressource pour les 40 000 habitants qui vivent sur l’eau et dont le mode de deplacement est la pirogue. Construites sur pilotis, la cité de Ganvié est inscrite au patrimoine mondial de l unesco. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024.Picture shows transport of wood Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024. Ganvie, la petite venise d afrique est une cite lacustre construite sur le lac Nokoue, au sud du Benin au 18 e siecle. la legende raconte que les villageois fuyaient les esclavagistes. La peche est la principale ressource pour les 40 000 habitants qui vivent sur l’eau et dont le mode de deplacement est la pirogue. Construites sur pilotis, la cité de Ganvié est inscrite au patrimoine mondial de l unesco. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024. Water market Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024. Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024. Ganvie, la petite venise d afrique est une cite lacustre construite sur le lac Nokoue, au sud du Benin au 18 e siecle. la legende raconte que les villageois fuyaient les esclavagistes. La peche est la principale ressource pour les 40 000 habitants qui vivent sur l’eau et dont le mode de deplacement est la pirogue. Construites sur pilotis, la cité de Ganvié est inscrite au patrimoine mondial de l unesco. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024.Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024.
Ganvie, la petite venise d afrique est une cite lacustre construite sur le lac Nokoue, au sud du Benin au 18 e siecle. la legende raconte que les villageois fuyaient les esclavagistes. La peche est la principale ressource pour les 40 000 habitants qui vivent sur l’eau et dont le mode de deplacement est la pirogue. Construites sur pilotis, la cité de Ganvié est inscrite au patrimoine mondial de l unesco. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024.Picture shows happy children Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024. Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024. Picture shows happy children Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024. Ganvie, la petite venise d afrique est une cite lacustre construite sur le lac Nokoue, au sud du Benin au 18 e siecle. la legende raconte que les villageois fuyaient les esclavagistes. La peche est la principale ressource pour les 40 000 habitants qui vivent sur l’eau et dont le mode de deplacement est la pirogue. Construites sur pilotis, la cité de Ganvié est inscrite au patrimoine mondial de l unesco. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024.
Picture shows happy children Ganvie, the little Venice of Africa, is a lakeside city built on Lake Nokoue, in the south of Benin in the 18th century. Legend has it that the villagers were fleeing the slavers. Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000 inhabitants who live on the water and whose mode of travel is by canoe. Built on stilts, the city of Ganvie is a UNESCO world heritage site. Ganvie,Benin-05/01/2024. Ganvie, la petite venise d afrique est une cite lacustre construite sur le lac Nokoue, au sud du Benin au 18 e siecle. la legende raconte que les villageois fuyaient les esclavagistes. La peche est la principale ressource pour les 40 000 habitants qui vivent sur l’eau et dont le mode de deplacement est la pirogue. Construites sur pilotis, la cité de Ganvié est inscrite au patrimoine mondial de l unesco. Ganvie, Benin-05/01/2024.
La pêche est la
principale ressource pour les 40 000 habitants dont le mode de déplacement est
exclusivement la pirogue. Menacés par le réchauffement climatique, le niveau de
l’eau monte et les poissons deviennent de plus en plus rares alors que les
jacinthes d’eau envahissent la lagune asphyxiant la vie aquatique. L’intensification
des phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes, tels que les inondations, accentuent
l’érosion des berges et perturbent davantage l’équilibre de l’écosystème.
Emmanuel Manassi
Houngogbe, 50 ans, vit a Ganvié depuis toujours. Selon les familles et
l’ancienneté, le gouvernement octroi des emplacements pour pêcher. Avec son
père, depuis l’enfance, il a appris la pêche à l’épervier et à la nasse. La vie
est de plus en plus difficile. Il constate, depuis environs 12 ans, que le
niveau de l’eau monte plus qu’auparavant. « L’eau devient de plus en plus
chaude, les poissons fuient ».
Emmanuel Manassi
Houngogbe : « Il y a de moins en moins de poissons. C’est variable
selon les jours… Cela existe depuis une bonne dizaine d’années… » Emmanuel
travaille 6 jours sur 7 et gagne environs 4000 francs cfa par jour, soit 6,10
euro par jour.
La surpopulation et
la surexploitation exercent une grande pression sur les ressources halieutiques
du lac. De plus, la croissance rapide
des zones urbaines environnantes exerce une pression considérable sur la
lagune. Le déversement de déchets domestiques dont l’utilisation excessive
d’engrais et de pesticides dans les eaux a entraîné une augmentation des
niveaux de pollution.
A Ganvié, les
jacinthes d’eau envahissent la lagune a un rythme effréné. L’écosystème de la
vie aquatique est bouleversé. Cinq mois par an (D’août à décembre), celles-ci
forment un épais tapis qui entravent la pêche et la navigation des habitants.
La réalité est qu’il n’y a pas de traitement
des eaux usés. La pollution organique avec une diminution de l’oxygène dans
l’eau menace à terme l’existence même de la vie à Ganvié.
Malgré tout, la vie
s’organise à Ganvié. Les besoins quotidiens des habitants s’articulent autour
du marché flottant avec un accès à l’eau potable, à l’alimentation et à
l’énergie comme le bois pour cuire les aliments.
Si depuis trois
siècles Ganvié a prospéré, force est de constater la dégradation
environnementale actuelle. IL devient urgent d’agir pour conserver la magnifique
et magique cité lacustre de Ganvié inscrite au patrimoine de l’UNESCO.
Ganvié in Benin: A
Lagoon in Danger
Cotonou, Benin. The Ganvié Lagoon, often
nicknamed the « Venice of Africa », faces increasing environmental
threats that jeopardize its unique ecosystem and the communities that depend on
it. Ganvié is a lakeside town dating from the beginning of the 17th century
built on Lake Nokoue, near Cotonou. Legend has it that the villagers, to escape
the raids of the slavers, blessed these houses on stilts, far from danger.
Fishing is the main resource for the 40,000
inhabitants whose mode of travel is exclusively by canoe. Threatened by global
warming, the water level is rising and fish are becoming increasingly rare
while water hyacinths invade the lagoon, suffocating aquatic life. The
intensification of extreme weather phenomena, such as floods, accentuates the erosion
of banks and further disrupts the balance of the ecosystem.
Emmanuel Manassi Houngogbe, 50 years old, has
always lived in Ganvié. Depending on the family and seniority, the government
grants locations for fishing. With his father, since childhood, he learned to
fish with a cast net and a fish trap. Life is getting more and more difficult.
He has noticed for the past 12 years, that the water level is rising higher
than before. “The water is getting warmer and warmer, the fish are fleeing.”
Emmanuel Manassi Houngogbe: “There are fewer and
fewer fish. It varies depending on the day… It has existed for a good ten
years…” Emmanuel works 6 days a week and earns around 4,000 CFA francs per day,
or 6.10 euros per day.
Overpopulation and overexploitation exert great
pressure on the lake’s fishery resources. Additionally, the rapid growth of
surrounding urban areas is putting considerable pressure on the lagoon. Dumping
of domestic waste including excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides into
waters has led to increased pollution levels.
In Ganvié, water hyacinths are invading the
lagoon at a frantic pace. The ecosystem of aquatic life is disrupted. Five
months a year (August to December), these form a thick carpet which hinders the
fishing and navigation of the inhabitants.
The reality is that there is no wastewater
treatment. Organic pollution with a decrease in oxygen in the water ultimately
threatens the very existence of life in Ganvié. ¬¬
Despite everything, life is organized in Ganvié.
The daily needs of residents revolve around the floating market with access to
drinking water, food and energy such as wood to cook food.
If Ganvié has prospered for three centuries, it
is clear that there is current environmental degradation. It is becoming urgent
to act to preserve the magnificent and magical lakeside city of Ganvié, listed
as a UNESCO heritage site.
