The Beninese people originate from the Republic of Benin, a country in West Africa which is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. The majority originated from the small southern coastline of the Bight of Benin, part of the Gulf of Guinea in the northernmost tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean.

They speak French. Their music often includes native folk music combined with Ghanaian highlife, French cabaret, American rock, funk and soul, and Congolese rumba. Their diet, especially those from south Benin, includes the most common ingredient corn, often used to prepare dough which is mainly served with peanut- or tomato-based sauces. Fish and chicken are the most common meats used in southern Beninese cuisine, along with beef and goat.

The majority of Beninese adhere to Roman Catholicism, followed closely by Islam. A small percentage are evangelical Christians.