Other Nigerian men and women typically wear a traditional style called Buba. Retrieved from https://commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/afghanistan-guide. The Palm Wine Drinkard, a popular novel by Amos Tutuola, was written in it. Tags: Importance Of Culture In Nigeria,Types Of Culture In Nigeria. [20][21][22] Indigenous religious practices remain important to all of Nigeria's ethnic groups however, and frequently these beliefs are blended with Christian or Muslim beliefs, a practice known as syncretism. The fundamental issue here is what motivates people, wanting to be the best (masculine) or liking what you do (feminine). Nigeria has three main environmental regions: savanna, tropical forests, and coastal wetlands. In this country, individuals usually become a part of one or more ethnic groups in Nigeria. [79], Other traditional cultural expressions are found in the various masquerades of Nigeria, such as the Eyo masquerades of Lagos, the Ekpe and Ekpo masquerades of the Efik/Ibibio/Annang/Igbo peoples of coastal southeastern Nigeria, and the Northern masquerades of the Bini. They tend to examine behaviour in its total context, not merely what they have observed. The Nigerian People and Culture - WorldAtlas [59], Although chiefs have few official powers today, they are widely respected, and prominent monarchs are often courted to endorse politicians during elections in the hopes of them conferring legitimacy to their campaigns by way of doing so. Anywhere you find yourself in the Nigerian territory, you will meet a unique group of people who are set in their ways and would blow your mind away with their ways of life. 4. [87] In the Igbo tradition, the men's cultural attire is Isiagu (a patterned shirt), which is worn with trousers and the traditional Igbo men's hat called Okpu Agwu. The singer and social activist Fela Kuti was instrumental in Nigeria's musical development. Nigerian literature and its emerging figures were themselves the subject of a Times piece in November 2017. Their traditional religion, Ifa, has been recognized by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the oral tradition of Humanity. Academic and Higher Education Webinars, C.V. Starr & Co. Some more examples of their traditional dishes are eba, pounded yam, iyan, fufu and soups like okra, ogbono and egusi. Ekiti Yoruba dancers wear head masks so heavy that they can do only processional dances. The most common greeting is a handshake with a warm, welcoming smile. by Olivia Angelino, Thomas J. Bollyky, Elle Ruggiero and Isabella Turilli Unique to Nigeria, the percentage of Christians to Muslims are nearly equal, with a small percentage being allocated to populations that practice indigenous religions. 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 Nigerian Government in September, 1988, launched the "National Cultural Policy". 'Omenana' is man-made; it is easily changed and is adaptable. Helon Habila, Sefi Atta , Flora Nwapa, Iquo DianaAbasi Eke,[69] Zaynab Alkali and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie,[70] among others, are notable Nigerian authors whose works are read widely within and outside the country.[71]. #1: A land of over 200 million smiles Home to over 200 million inhabitants, Nigeria has one of the largest populations of youth, and is the sixth most populous country in the world. The Hausa group (majority of them are Muslims) prevail in the northern region of Nigeria. [19] The Fulani and the Hausa are mostly Muslim, while the Igbo are mostly Christian and so are the Bini and the Ibibio. 1. With nearly 200 million inhabitants, it also happens to be one of the world's largest countries by population. [40][41] Socially, the Igbos are led by monarchs who had limited power historically. When a person becomes a member of the society, he accumulates knowledge about language, symbols, values, norms, customs and traditions of that environment. The highest position Nigeria ever reached on the ranking was 5th, in April 1994. Nigeria is a multiethnic country in Northern Africa. When greeting someone who is obviously much older, it is a sign of respect and deference to bow the head. . The climate in Nigeria is typically hot, ranging from 28 38 degrees Celsius depending on the time of the year. For those needing a more detailed and comprehensive overview of Nigeria we have published an expert, Report on Nigerian Society, Culture & Business, here to learn more about our customized cultural training. Individuals turn to members of the extended family for financial aid and guidance, and the family is expected to provide for the welfare of every member. A curation of original analyses, data visualizations, and commentaries, examining the debates and efforts to improve health worldwide. They may smile to mask their true feelings, especially when disappointed or confused. Such social niceties go a long way since. Igbo dominate in the south-central and southeastern parts of the country. The Kanuri people[12] are located in the northeast part of Nigeria, the Tiv people[13] of north central and the Efik-Ibibio[14] are in the south south. Nigeria has the largest population on the continent and the third-largest manufacturing sector. Other symbols used to communicate and share stories are music, sculpture, dance, painting, theater etc. If you plan to work from an agenda, it is a good idea to send it in advance of the meeting. They can also be found in large numbers in Cameroon and other African countries. Always wait until invited before using someones first name. It is richer than all other West African nations and holds considerable power. Photo by Nnaemeka Ugochukwu on Unsplash. This is one of the tools used by the government to create a more conducive and secured environment. 6. Nigeria is a hierarchical society. Nigerian food offers a rich blend of traditionally African carbohydrates such as yam and cassava as well as the vegetable soups with which they are often served. Different generations of Nigerians are closely connected due to their culture. They make beautiful sculptures in honour of their gods and deities. NIGERIA CULTURAL DIVERSITY. | World Scouting - scouts.org Men from this tribe are known to wear large flowing gowns known as Babban Riga and also a robe-like dress called Jalabia or Juanni. In return, most senior citizens have the responsibility to make various decisions on behalf of ethnic groups. This is known as the Nze na Ozo title system. At the same time, a harsh tone is considered unwelcoming and even hostile. The fact that the Times chose to profile the heads of Nigerias lifestyle magazines on the front page of its business section is even more notable, as it illustrates the growth of Nigerias international cultural influence. The word "Ubinu" was used to depict and portray the royal administrative centre or capital proper of the kingdom, Edo. Quiz. monarchs who have received definite authority from the official government and are recognized by the laws of Nigeria),[58] the chiefs come in various ranks and are of varied kinds - some monarchs are so powerful that they influence political and religious life outside their immediate domains (the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife, for example), while in contrast many local families around the country install their eldest members as titled chiefs in order for them to provide them with what is an essentially titular leadership. The number of ethnic groups and dialects stand at more than 1,150. masterpiece of the oral tradition of Humanity, all of whom have been titled chiefs of various ethnic groups, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Nigerian cultural values are under threat, Toyin Falola, US scholar, warns", "Culture Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria", "Culture Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Republic of Korea", "Nigeria: most common languages spoken at home 2020", "There are 27 languages close to extinction in Nigeria", "Igbos, Yorubas have historical ties - Ooni of Ife", "Nigeria: The politics of religion in a transitional society, By Rotimi Akeredolu", "Major tribes in Nigeria and their states with all the details", "Full list of all 371 tribes in Nigeria, states where they originate", "Tooth Dyeing Tradition among the Kanuri Speaking People of Borno, Nigeria", "Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Enugu: Tale of four cities The Nation Newspaper", "Fulani | People, Religion, & Nigeria | Britannica", "Islam has a small presence in Nigeria's Igbo region: what a new Quran translation offers", "Chrislam: Defying Nigeria's Religious Boundaries", "The Oba of Benin Kingdom: A history of the monarchy", "Benin: The hallowed culture of one of the world's most ancient people", "Fulani and Hausa: What's the difference? Its members amassed great wealth while serving as middlemen, and the preponderance of English names among them today is a testament to the trade names adopted by their ancestors at this time. Very direct eye contact may be interpreted as being intrusive unless there is a longstanding personal relationship. National Cultural Dimensions-Nigeria | Cultural Sensitivity in the Therefore, it is a good idea to observe the situation carefully before determining what behaviour is appropriate. Having worked in North America and Europe, attended business excursions in China, and even worked in neighboring West African countries, it is safe to say that Nigeria definitely has a unique culture and way of life. Regardless of the countrys developmental struggles, Nigerians enjoy interacting with their community. Nigeria's rich cultural heritage boasts of huge eclectic and colourful festivals that are full of rhythm, brilliant colours, fun and great pace. After radio and television stations were established in all the state capitals, they began broadcasting programs featuring traditional music and dance, folk operas, and storytelling; these programs are now available in some 25 languages. Many religions are followed in Nigeria. Basic features of culture in Nigeria - Legit.ng February 13, 2023 There is also a rich nightlife, complete with live music events, and celebrations around personal milestones such as birthdays and weddings in Nigerias bustling cities. Gari (ground cassava), iyan (yam paste), or plantains accompany the soup. Photo by Oladimeji Odunsi on Unsplash, Catching a ride for the morning commute into work in Lagos. They are the most dispersed set of people in Nigeria as they can be found all over the country. Nigeria itself is home to several textile industries that go towards clothing the Nigerian people. The Igbo ethnic group, of which I belonged to, are mostly christian. Get the hottest stories from the largest news site in Nigeria. Expect the first few meetings to be somewhat formal as your Nigerian counterparts continue to become comfortable with you as a person. Here are 10 interesting facts about Nigeria: 1. You will frequently see colleagues gathering at a restaurant or local watering hole for after-work drinks to discuss the latest news in business, politics, or tabloid gossip. Establishments serving alcoholic beverages are found everywhere except where Islamic laws prohibit them. Nigeria is the most populous African country, and also amongst the top 10 most populous countries in the world with approximately 195 million people. Descending into the valley is a lengthy walkway of 317 steps, which were constructed by the state government. The Great Wall of Benin was a great structural and architectural piece that was way ahead of time and stood to protect the ancient Benin kingdom. It has the largest population in Africa and the land is endowed with vast quantities of natural resources. [86] The men wear buba (long shirt), sokoto (baggy trousers), agbada (flowing robe with wide sleeves) and fila (a hat). Afghanistan - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette. The language they speak is called the Edo language. The import market for this fabric is dominated by the Dutch company Vlisco,[83] which has been selling its Dutch wax print fabric to Nigerians since the late 1800s, when the fabric was sold along the company's oceanic trading route to Indonesia. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country of almost 200 million people. This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) License. The oldest person in a group is revered and honoured. It's a complex system that transfers social experience from one generation to other and from era to era. [62] With over eight million copies sold worldwide, it has been translated into 50 languages, making Achebe the most translated African writer of all time. These are also important aspects of our culture. The official language of Nigeria, English, was chosen to facilitate the cultural and linguistic unity of the country post-colonization by the British. 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. Commonly referred to as the giant of Africa, Nigeria is highly populated and unlike any other African country. Some of these dialects include Egba, Ekiti, Ijesha, Egun etc. The culture of the country is diverse and tends to differ from north to south. Food and eating food is a universal experience, an element of common ground in terms of .