Representations, Perceptions and Social Imaginaries of Water Among the Communities Living Along Lake Ahémé in Benin

In lakeside communities, water is not merely a natural resource for domestic or economic uses; it is also imbued with symbolic, cultural, and spiritual meanings that structure the relationships between communities and their environment. Based on socio-anthropological research conducted in the districts bordering Lake Ahémé, in the commune of Kpomassè, Benin, this article analyzes the social representations, perceptions, and imaginaries associated with the lake's water. The study employs a mixed-methods approach combining questionnaire surveys, semi-structured interviews, and field observations to explore water practices and the belief systems that underpin them. The results highlight the plurality of ritual practices associated with the lake, the existence of community mechanisms for the social and ecological regulation of access to water, and significant territorial variations in practices and representations. The water of Lake Ahémé appears simultaneously as a vital resource, a sacred space, a source of collective identity, and an object of community governance. The study also reveals the emergence of dynamics of recomposition linked to the modernization of hydraulic infrastructure and socio-economic transformations, leading to a coexistence between traditional norms and contemporary practices. These results underscore the importance of integrating local cultural rationales and symbolic systems into public water management policies, in order to foster more inclusive governance approaches adapted to local socio-ecological contexts.