Benin (IPA: /bə'nɪn/), officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in Western Africa. It borers Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north; its short coastline to the south leads to the Bight of Benin. Its capital is Porto Novo, but the seat of government is Cotonou. Benin was known as Dahomey until 1975.