List of Famous people born in Benin
Djimon Hounsou
Djimon Gaston Hounsou is a Beninese–American actor and model. Hounsou began his career appearing in music videos. He made his film debut in the Sandra Bernhard film Without You I'm Nothing (1990) and gained widespread recognition for his role as Cinqué in the Steven Spielberg film Amistad (1997). He gained further recognition for his roles in Gladiator (2000), In America (2003), and Blood Diamond (2006), receiving Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nominations for both the latter films. He also played an antagonist in Furious 7 (2015). He has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. Djimon Hounsou plays an important role as well in the French film Forces spéciales in 2011.
Angélique Kidjo
Angélique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo, known as Angélique Kidjo, is a Beninese singer-songwriter, actress, and activist who is noted for her diverse musical influences and creative music videos. In 2007, Time magazine called her "Africa's premier diva".
Steve Mounié
Steve Michel Mounié is a Beninese professional footballer who plays as a striker for French Ligue 1 club Brest and the Beninese national team.
Patrice Talon
Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon is a Beninese politician and businessman who has been President of Benin since 6 April 2016.
Stéphane Sessègnon
Stéphane Sessègnon is a Beninese professional footballer who most recently played for Turkish club Gençlerbirliği. He is a Benin international, having represented the nation at both the 2008, 2010 and 2019 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations. Sessègnon plays a variety of positions as a forward, a winger and as a midfield offensive playmaker. He is Benin's all-time top scorer and appearance maker with 24 international goals in 83 matches.
Zomahoun Idossou Rufin
Zomahoun Idossou Rufin, popularly known as Zomahon (ゾマホン), is a Beninese foreign personality in Japan. He is currently the Ambassador of the Republic of Benin to Japan and the former Special Advisor of the President of the Republic of Benin Thomas Boni Yayi.
Éric Micoud
Éric Micoud is a French basketball player who played 20 games for the men's French national team between 1999 and 2001.
Jean Sagbo
Jean Gregoire Sagbo is a Beninese-born Russian real estate agent and politician. His position is councilor of Novozavidovo in Konakovsky District, Tver Oblast. Sagbo is the first Russian of African descent, or Afro-Russian, to have been elected to a local council in the Russian Federation. He has been referred to as "Russia's Obama".
Éric Blanc
Éric Degbegni, better known as Éric Blanc, is a French Impressionist and comedian.
Jean-Marc Adjovi-Bocco
Jean-Marc Adjovi-Bocco is a Beninese former professional footballer who played as a defender. Bocco captained the Benin national football team, until he retired from international football in the summer of 1997.
Aurélie Adam Soule
Aurélie Adam Soule or Aurélie Adam Soule Zoumarou is a Beninese politician who has been a Minister of Digital Economy and Communications.
Khaled Adénon
Abdoul Khaled Akiola Adénon is a Beninese professional football defender who plays for French Championnat National side US Avranches.
Djiman Koukou
Djiman Waidi Koukou is a Beninese professional footballer who plays for French club Red Star F.C. as a midfielder.
Thomas Boni Yayi
Thomas Boni Yayi is a Beninese banker and politician who was President of Benin from 2006 to 2016. He took office after winning the March 2006 presidential election and was re-elected to a second term in March 2011. He also served as the Chairperson of the African Union from 29 January 2012 to 27 January 2013.
Pascal Koupaki
Pascal Irénée Koupaki is a Beninese politician who served as Prime Minister of Benin from May 2011 to August 2013. Koupaki worked as an official at the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and he was Director of the Cabinet of the Prime Minister from 1996 to 1998. Under President Yayi Boni, Koupaki was Minister of Finance from 2006 to 2007 and then Minister of State for the Exploration, Development, and Evaluation of Public Policy from 2007 to 2011.
Romuald Wadagni
Romuald Wadagni is Benin's Minister of Economy, Finance and Denationalization Programs. He replaces Komi Koutché in this position. After 17 years of ascension within the French, American and African firms of the consulting firm Deloitte, he was appointed on 7 April 2016, Minister of Economy and Finance in the first Talon government, a position to which he was reappointed in 2021.
Dorothé Sossa
Marc Aillet
Marc Marie Max Aillet has been the bishop of Bayonne since 30 November 2008. He had previously served as vicar general of the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon.
Coffi Codjia
Coffi Codjia is a Beninese football referee.