The Republic of Benin is a state of West Africa, formerly known under the name Dahomey. It faces south across the Gulf of Benin,where the coastline is about 120 km, is bordered on the west by Togo to the east with Nigeria and north and Burkina Faso and Niger. Not to be confused with the kingdom of Benin, also known as the kingdom of Edo, which is now gone, and which originated in the area west of the River Niger delta. Of this kingdom remains to this day the state of Edo, which is part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and for Benin City capital. The climate in Benin is hot and humid, with a relative scarcity of rains are concentrated in two rainy seasons (April-July and September-November). In winter, the nights can be quite cool, because of harmattan, a dry and dusty wind.