DU RECOURS AU MODE DE TRANSPORT ZEMIDJAN A COTONOU: QUAND LA PRESSION SOCIALE ET LES CONDITIONS DE VIE DITENT LA LOI

Abstract

The Zemidjan is one phenomen, borning in Porto Novo capital of Benin, has developed in several cities, including Cotonou. This city is identified by the large number of motorcycle taxi drivers in yellow uniform. The question that comes in mind is to analyze the socio-economic factors that underlie and favored this profession. Mixed in nature, the empirical data were analyzed on the basis of Boudon's methodological individualism (1986), Blumer's (1937) symbolic interactionism, and Gonzalez's deftness (2010) in order to understand the motivations and foundations. social actors to use this mode of transport. Weber's Comprehensive Theory (1921) was useful in that it made it possible to understand the reasons justifying the choices and the significance of the behavior of Cotonou zemidjans in given situations. The interview, the questionnaire and the observation were the techniques mobilized on a sample of 150 actors chosen randomly and reasoned. The results show that membership and recourse to this occupation are due to the ease of access conditions, unemployment to the lack of alternatives and the insufficient income of some employees and workers in other sectors. It also appears that some private and even state officials do so according to them rounding up the salary of the month