The surrounding villages are of the Bariba people in south and west, and the Mokole Yoruba in the north, who fled the wars of the foundation of the Oyo Empire.

[2][3] Bombax costatum ('false kapok'; 'Kapokier à fleurs rouges') is locally important as an agriforest subsistence crop: its flowers and calices are used as food; its leaves provide fodder, while kapok fibre is obtained from its seed pods.

Kandi is a major centre of the cotton-growing region and cotton-ginning factories in the commune provide local employment.

[2] The commune of Kandi is located 650 kilometres (400 mi) from Cotonou, in the Sudanian savanna zone.

Communally it is bounded to the north by Malanville, south by Gogounou, west by Banikoara and to the east by Ségbana.