Hotels and nightclubs are part of the landscape of the larger cities. The population of Nigeria makes up 1/8 of the inhabitants of the African continent. A Nigerian generally waits for the woman to extend her hand. When greeting someone who is obviously much older, it is a sign of respect and deference to bow the head. Never use the left hand only. The region is well-known for its hospitality, cuisine and music. The climate in Nigeria is typically hot, ranging from 28 38 degrees Celsius depending on the time of the year. Although this group is found throughout the grasslands of West Africa, the bulk of the population is found in Northern Nigeria in states like Sokoto, Kano, and Katsina. Culture of Nigeria - Wikipedia Photo by Muhammadtaha Ibrahim Ma'aji on Unsplash. Furthermore, Nigerians are known for their larger-than-life celebrations, and definitely, go the extra mile to make sure to throw notable and enjoyable events for their attendees. What is Nigeria's location and importance? - Internet Geography Opay.ng - Every transaction made on this app is very fast; the delivery rate is 99%, which means you don't need to worry anytime you make a payment on this platform.Plus, every transaction on the app is free. The singer and social activist Fela Kuti was instrumental in Nigeria's musical development. The 41-page PDF document has been authored by one of our Nigeria country specialists and provides readers with much more detail that our free guide above. Beautifully crafted sculptures of wood, brass, and terracotta are common things among the Yoruba. They tend to examine behaviour in its total context, not merely what they have observed. Cultures and indigenous values must evolve bottom-up policies and approaches to growth and development in the country. Gifts should be wrapped, although there are no cultural taboos concerning paper colour. A colonial explorer stole Aboriginal spears in 1770. Centuries later Traditionally, cultures such as the Yoruba used to wear clothing such as gele (a cloth wrapped around the head by women), afbada (a robe for formal functions), and other forms of attire. It has the largest population in Africa and the land is endowed with vast quantities of natural resources. Nigerians are generally, enterprising, resilient, and enthusiastic people. Nigeria boasts of 300 or more different ethnic groups. Let's appreciate and preserve our culture and traditions and use them as vehicles towards our development, growth, and unity. Investing in your people is an investment in a healthy culture, and so it follows that a lack of investment is one of the biggest cultural risk factors. For instance, "How you dey" means "How are you". Nigeria has two seasons: rainy season, which occurs in April until September, and dry season, which is referred to as Harmattan. A curation of original analyses, data visualizations, and commentaries, examining the debates and efforts to improve health worldwide. The country has over 50 languages and over 250 dialects and ethnic groups. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country of almost 200 million people. [32] The Fulani people are also nomadic in nature; this nomadic lifestyle spread them into virtually all of West Africa. Middle Eastern culture: Middle Eastern culture is a fascinating mixture of religious and traditional beliefs. Many dishes are flavoured with onions, palm oil, and chilies. Many use gestures when communicating. Tribal marks used to be widely popular amongst Yorubas but that culture is fast washing out amongst modern Yoruba descendants. They are ruled by monarchs, and are famous for their Benin Bronzes. Nigeria - Geography Wole Soyinka, who won the 1986 Nobel Prize for Literature, was the first Black African to receive the award. Fermented palm products make a traditional liquor, palm wine, and also fermented cassava. Photo by Oladimeji Odunsi on Unsplash, Catching a ride for the morning commute into work in Lagos. This may take as long as two hours for an initial meeting. Traditional instruments include various types of flutes, trumpets, musical bows, xylophones, and wooden clappers, as well as many varieties of drums. Owing to the affinity they have with water, a significant number of the Ijaw people are discovered as migrant fishermen in camps that are as far west as Sierra Leone and as far east as Gabon. 10 Interesting Facts About Nigeria - US News & World Report Several streams also flow into the caves . Age and position earns, even demands, respect. Some of these dialects include Egba, Ekiti, Ijesha, Egun etc. with Ivan Kanapathy, Bonny Lin and Stephen S. Roach As a developing country, Nigeria faces challenges regarding its infrastructure. There is a large variety of linguistic and ethnic groups in the country. Nigeria has a rich culture. Tags: Importance Of Culture In Nigeria,Types Of Culture In Nigeria. The Ijaw culture of the South has been influenced greatly by its location on the coast and the interaction with foreigners that it necessitated. Artefacts stolen from Benin sit on shelves of many foreign museums and in the private homes of foreigners. The Bini people[15][16] are most frequent in the region between Yorubaland and Igboland. The Palm Wine Drinkard, a popular novel by Amos Tutuola, was written in it. [online] Available at: https://commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/afghanistan-guide [Accessed ENTER DATE]. . The women wear Iro and Buba and tie a complimentary headgear. The terra-cotta figurines of the Nok are some of the earliest statues in existence from sub-Saharan Africa. Renewing America, Backgrounder Along with South Africa, Nigeria is considered a super-power in the African continent and consequently Nigerians are generally proud of their country. Culture. They look for the rationale behind behaviour and attempt to understand the context. 4. The Hausa group (majority of them are Muslims) prevail in the northern region of Nigeria. Challenges that include a variety of issues, such as inconsistent electricity, bad roads, and low-quality public transportation. Nigerians are generally enterprising, resilient, and enthusiastic people. Hausa/Fulani ethnic group is made up of two hitherto different ethnic groups that have now intermixed to the extent that they are regarded as one inseparable ethnic nation. Therefore, it is a good idea to observe the situation carefully before determining what behaviour is appropriate. 1950 W. Corporate Way PMB 25615, Anaheim, CA 92801, USA.+44 0330 027 0207 or +1 (818) 532-6908, 34 New House, 67-68 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8JY, UK.1950 W. Corporate Way PMB 25615, Anaheim, CA 92801, USA.+44 0330 027 0207+1 (818) 532-6908. The Yoruba culture is rich and unique drawing comparison with no other culture around. by Lindsay Maizland In recent time, the styles have evolved to more contemporary designs. Dance also has many varieties: Ishan stilt dancers in colourful costumes twist themselves in the air; one Tiv dance, called ajo, features male dancers who work in pairs, and another involves teams of women who perform a dance called icough while composing songs about current events. 'Omenana' is man-made; it is easily changed and is adaptable. This shows that reading culture is a prerequisite foracquisition of knowledge and skills needed by all people in a rapidly changing world and catalyst for participation in social, cultural, political and economic activities of the show more content. [86] The men wear buba (long shirt), sokoto (baggy trousers), agbada (flowing robe with wide sleeves) and fila (a hat). Nigeria is the most populous countries in Africa, and also amongst the top 20 most diverse countries in the world. It is a good idea to maintain a polite and somewhat reserved manner until the person you are meeting drops some of his formality. The way of life of any society involves a number of areas (labour, politics, economics, ethics, aesthetics, law, family, religion, etc). Regardless of the countrys developmental struggles, Nigerians enjoy interacting with their community. Academic and Higher Education Webinars, C.V. Starr & Co. Such social niceties go a long way since. Discover w. The Yoruba are predominantly of mixed Muslim and Christian backgrounds.The Yoruba make up about 21% of the country's population estimated to be over 225 million and about half of the Yoruba are Muslim, with the other half being Christian. Another major Nigerian city is Port Harcourt. Nigerian beans, quite different from green peas, are widely popular. The number of languages currently estimated and catalogued in Nigeria is 521. The Benin people of present-day Edo state had a culture that amazed the colonial masters when they first got to the ancient Benin kingdom. Music and art are important aspects of everyday life in the Hausa/Fulani and they are well known for the Dubar celebration. 5 important Significance of Igbo-Ukwu Culture in Nigerian History On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. From the farmers in the rural areas to the bankers in the city, work is a central and important part of daily life in Nigeria. The earth spirit, Ana, is 'odinana', as is the sacred role of yam in the Igbo world, the right of inheritance, and the place of the elder. The rationale behind these weddings is that the union needs to be recognized by religion, the law, and by tradition. The three largest ethnic groups are the Hausas that are predominantly in the north, the Yorubas who predominate in the southwest, and the Igbos in the southeast. By entering your email and clicking subscribe, you're agreeing to receive announcements from CFR about our products and services, as well as invitations to CFR events. At one time the Edo of the kingdom of Benin distinguished between urban music that was performed at the palace and less complex music that was played in rural areas. The oldest person in a group is revered and honoured. The traditional Yoruba kingships still survive, but with only a hint of their former political power. While many artists still work in these traditions, more-contemporary artists, who combine African and Western traditions, also abound. Therefore, understanding Nigerian culture and way of life can seem like a daunting task, however, gaining this understanding will help you develop a robust action plan to build your business in the region. Nigeria is a multiethnic country in Northern Africa. This number includes 510 living languages, 2 second languages without native speakers and 9 extinct languages. Culturally, Nigeria is like a coat of many colours. If invited to dinner at someones home then bring fruit, nuts or chocolates for the host. Some of their native clothing materials include Aso-oke or Ofi and Adire. Smiling and showing sincere pleasure at meeting the person is important. Establishments serving alcoholic beverages are found everywhere except where Islamic laws prohibit them. They make beautiful sculptures in honour of their gods and deities. Commisceo Global Consulting Ltd. 2022 All Rights Reserved. Lagos, Nigerias former capital, is also the countrys most popular city and is located along the coast in the southwest region. Extended families are still the norm and are in fact the backbone of the social system. The dry, open grasslands of the savanna make cereal farming and herding a way of life for the Hausa and The Dynastic Origins of Western Yorb Kingdoms", "In pictures: Country of kings, Nigeria's many monarchs", "Things Fall Apart | Summary, Themes, & Facts | Britannica", "Contemporary African Poetry: A Postcolonial Reading of Iquo Eke's Symphony of Becoming and Ifeanyi Nwaeboh's Stampede of Voiceless Ants", "Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie comes to terms with global fame", "From Achebe To Adichie: Top Ten Nigerian Authors", "Nollywood: The Influence of the Nigerian Movie Industry on African Culture", "Carbonhydrate intake Among Urbanized Adult Nigerians", "Nigerian Food: 16 Popular and Traditional Dishes to Try - Nomad Paradise", "Gelede | African ritual festival | Britannica", "distinctive African print fabrics | The true original dutch wax prints", "The Yoruba tribe of Nigeria and their clothes rich in colors and textures", "Interesting Facts About Nigerian People and Culture", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_Nigeria&oldid=1141605451, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2022, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Articles lacking in-text citations from December 2013, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 22:16. Nigeria - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette Because of the movies, western influences such as music, casual dressing and methods of speaking are to be found all across Nigeria, even in the highly conservative north of the country.[72]. Things Fall Apart,[61] by Chinua Achebe, is an important book in African literature. It is common to gaze at the forehead or shoulders of someone they do not know well. Nigerians' Growing Cultural Influence Around the World 5. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. In outlook, education, dress and taste, the Hausa people and their counterparts the Fulani have become a significant part of the Islamic world, this said influence still remains until the current day. Presently, Nigerias religious landscape is generally dominated by Christianity in the South and Islam in the North. However, pidgin English and indigenous languages are also spoken throughout the country. Since the 1990s the Nigerian movie industry, sometimes called "Nollywood", has emerged as a fast-growing cultural force all over Africa. This is due to the large number of ethnic groups that exist in the country. Culture - Federal Ministry of Information and Culture Due to the ethnic make-up of the country, communication styles vary. [46], Language and cultural studies suggest that they are related to the founders of the Great Nile Valley civilization complex (and possibly the lake Chad complex). [26][27] They are an ethnic group that is primarily found in Edo State, and spread across the Delta, Ondo, and Rivers states of Nigeria in smaller concentrations. For example, the cassavas can be ground up and the flour used to make a delicious and inexpensive porridge. Preserving Nigeria's cultural heritage - Daily Trust This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) License. Nigerians are a group of people who are so different but still united as one in the quest to achieve a common purpose of nation-building.