Proliferation of restaurants in Cotonou: A bad for a good ?

In Cotonou and Abomey- Calavi, strong is to note the presence of a multitude of restaurants with diversified services. From bars restaurants to cafeterias, these spaces multiply at sunrise. The population, particularly the juvenile layer, uses it in order to appease its hunger, but the evil, traditional culinary practices are flouted to the profiles of Western ones.

Firmin KASSAGA

Spaghetti, omelettes, croissants… and many other foods are the different menus offered in the different restaurants. These places are increasingly frequented by a category of people and for their part the promoters of restaurants are constantly multiplying these spaces..

The flow of restaurants in the city

 Now it is difficult to walk five hundred meters without noticing the presence of a restaurant. “In the neighborhood five years ago, I was the only one who had my restaurant, but for a few years, we restaurateurs, we have become numerous and each to his clientele according to his services », told us lady Brigitte promoter of a restaurant. She adds, “There is no explanation for this., the sector is prolific and everyone wins. Also there is the fact that many young people are now trained in the field of catering and therefore after their training, the most objective create their small restaurants and avoid unemployment ». From the words of this lady, it must therefore be understood that the proliferation of restaurants is mainly due to the self-employment targeted by some young people, but also to the profitability of the sector..

Who are the main customers of these restaurants? ?

Geneviève is a manager in a restaurant bar gives her answer : “Customers are mostly young people and also some women. In the bar, when they finish drinking, some eat to regain energy. We offer them several dishes ; Africans and Europeans”, Martin who has his own small cafeteria also provides his answer to this question : " Young people, young people are my favorite customers. Often married women come but it's just sometimes, but young girls and young boys, it's their daily life".

The evil of restaurants

“The frequentation of these spaces remains normal. Worry comes when we give it more interest than domestic culinary practices. Some housewives come to order meals every week. They find that they have no time. We do it knowing that it is not good because the children of the latter will also follow in these footsteps”, declares Solange responsible for a restaurant bar. It is therefore necessary to understand through this testimony that some people order food in these restaurants which undoubtedly stains the education of children because education is also know-how and for these parents no know-how is transmitted in the culinary field. The multitude of restaurants in our cities should not be a handicap for society but when they come to replace domestic culinary duty, they become evil.