Nigeria itself is home to several textile industries that go towards clothing the Nigerian people. [78], Traditional musicians use a number of diverse instruments, such as Gongon drums. July 2, 2022 Odiraa 0 Comments 36 states in nigeria and their ethnic groups, 5 importance of culture in nigeria, ethnic groups in nigeria and their culture, interesting facts about nigerian culture, nigerian culture and tradition . Ekiti Yoruba dancers wear head masks so heavy that they can do only processional dances. Team members should present a united front at meetings. An person's immersion in a culture is determined by his/her socialization, familiarity with cultural heritage, as well as the development of his individual abilities.All these are usually achieved in the process of upbringing and education. [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. In the course of socialization the values, ideals, norms, patterns of behavior become a part of a person's self-awareness. January 31, 2022, How Tobacco Laws Could Help Close the Racial Gap on Cancer, Interactive When a person becomes a member of the society, he accumulates knowledge about language, symbols, values, norms, customs and traditions of that environment. Click here to learn more about our customized cultural training. Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon, Ethnic Groups: over 250 ethnic groups including Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%, Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%, Business Culture: Ranked 50th in the Business Culture Complexity Index. Academic and Higher Education Webinars, C.V. Starr & Co. Present and receive business cards with two hands or the right hand, never with the left. In Igboland, both men and women tie wrappers. The Ijaw culture of the South has been influenced greatly by its location on the coast and the interaction with foreigners that it necessitated. Maize is another crop that is commonly grown in Nigeria. This port city is located in the oil-rich Niger Delta region and serves as the capital of Rivers State. If you plan to work from an agenda, it is a good idea to send it in advance of the meeting. All this diversity makes the unification of Nigerians into a single nation a rather difficult task. The Yoruba culture is rich and unique drawing comparison with no other culture around. Vast wealth has been generated by it, and it is currently the second-largest film industry in the world by output. For women, the loose-fitting blouse goes down a little below the waist. with Ivan Kanapathy, Bonny Lin and Stephen S. Roach, Nigerians Growing Cultural Influence Around the World, Conflict at the Root of Food Insecurity in Africa, Swift Response to Open Letter Alleging Gender-Based Corruption in Rwandan Cycling. The people of ancient Nigeria were able to make their own weapons. Use the honorific title plus any academic or professional title and the surname. Sometimes even consumer products are marketed by focusing on a higher being. They are well known for their energetic dance steps, colourful attires, and masquerades. Grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers and in-laws all work as a unit through life.Family relationships are guided by hierarchy and seniority. Fermented palm products make a traditional liquor, palm wine, and also fermented cassava. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. With an increasingly cosmopolitan elite, Olanrewaju writes, luxury brands are eager to establish firmer footholds there. Although all of these magazines discuss the latest fashion trends, some also choose to take on taboo issues such as drug abuse and domestic violence. Yorubas have a strong political system with the Oba at the helm of affairs. As in the rest of Africa, it is rude to rush the greeting process. The Ogbunike Caves are found in a valley in the tropical forest of southeast Nigeria, in Anambra State. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country of almost 200 million people. Most people who are a part of this ethnic group are based in the southeastern part of Nigeria, they contribute to about 17 percent of the country's population. Get the hottest stories from the largest news site in Nigeria. There is an indefinite number of cultures around the world. In Nigeria,majority of parents are stack illiterates .They neither attend religious schools nor western type of institutions. The Oshogbo movement, founded in the early 1960s, includes the artists Muraina Oyelami, Twins Seven-Seven (Prince Taiwo Osuntoki), Bisi Fabunmi, Tijani Mayakiri, Rufus Ogundele, and Ademola Onibonokuta. However some of these states were conquered, taken over and re-established by the Fulani people which then led to the formation of a few other kingdoms such as Katagum, Hadejia and Gombe. Regardless of the countrys developmental struggles, Nigerians enjoy interacting with their community. Global Health Program, Higher Education Webinar: Teaching the History of American Democracy, Webinar [55] Oyo and the other kingdoms declined in the late 18th and 19th centuries owing to disputes among minor Yoruba rulers and invasions by the Fon of Dahomey (now Benin) and the Muslim Fulani. The early mosques built by men of this tribe were bright and colourful often including intricate engravings and elaborate designs. Annual Lecture on China. The Igbo people share linguistic ties with their neighbours the Bini, Igala, Yoruba, and Idoma, with whom it is believed they were closely related until five to six thousand years ago. Nigeria's most important. Gari (ground cassava), iyan (yam paste), or plantains accompany the soup. Long before the arrival of the Fulani people, the Hausa had already formed and made well-organised city states; some of these states include Katsina, Daura, Kano Zazzau (Zaria), Biram, Gobir and Borno. [54] Oyo developed in the medieval and early modern periods into the largest of the Yoruba kingdoms, while Ile-Ife still remained a town of very strong religious significance as the site of the earth's creation according to Yoruba mythology. February 1, 2023 Nigeria has a rich artistic heritage, including both traditional and contemporary art forms. 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. Working hours in the north often vary from those in the south so that Muslims do not work on their holy day, which is Friday. 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. Food is an important part of Nigerian life. Nigeria has the fastest growing economy in Africa and the highest GNP on the continent. Nigeria has two seasons: rainy season, which occurs in April until September, and dry season, which is referred to as Harmattan. Discover w. Culture. Culture creates favorable opportunities for acquiring knowledge and physical development. They make beautiful sculptures in honour of their gods and deities. The climate in Nigeria is typically hot, ranging from 28 38 degrees Celsius depending on the time of the year. Fufu is so emblematic of Nigeria that it figures in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, for example. It is basically what makes a person human. Funerals are also times when the family gathers. The mode of dressing of Yoruba males includes wearing Bubba and Sokoto and also a large flowing gown called Agbada. In cities like, Lagos and Port Harcourt traffic is very bad, and it takes skillful scheduling to avoid getting caught in it. Daily life in Nigeria varies based on location, and whether you reside in the city or rural areas. Men may place their left hand on the other persons shoulder while shaking hands. They are concentrated in the southwestern section of Nigeria, much smaller and scattered groups of Yoruba people live in Benin and northern Togo and they are numbered to be more than 20 million at the turn of the 21st century. Most people who are a part of this ethnic group are based in the southeastern part of Nigeria, they contribute to about 17 percent of the country's population. 1. [60], Nigeria is famous for its English language literature. Traditional instruments include various types of flutes, trumpets, musical bows, xylophones, and wooden clappers, as well as many varieties of drums. Address people initially by their academic, professional or honorific title and their surname. Friends may address each other in a variety of ways: the title and the first name, the first name alone, the surname alone, or a nickname. Nigeria is the most populous countries in Africa, and also amongst the top 20 most diverse countries in the world. Kano Durbar. [citation needed] The first Igbo in the region may have moved onto the Awka-Orlu plateau between four and five thousand years ago. Nigerian food is mostly made up of meals that are high in carbohydrates, such as cassavas, rice, maize, yams, and plenty of vegetables. From the naturalistic statues produced at Ife to the bronzes made for the king of Benin, Nigerian artists have crafted art that is world famous. With improved learning and health, increased tolerance, and opportunities to come together with others, culture enhances our quality of life and increases overall well-being for both individuals and communities. Adam Valavanis is a volunteer intern in the Africa program at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, DC. [57] Led by the Nigerian traditional rulers (i.e. Kanuri, Fulani, Hausa, Tiv - are the most densely populated groups that live in the north. Igbo dominate in the south-central and southeastern parts of the country. . Photo by Nnaemeka Ugochukwu on Unsplash. 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. Nigeria is the most populous African country, and also amongst the top 10 most populous countries in the world with approximately 195 million people. Culture helps to accumulates, control and organise the human experience. For example, the cassavas can be ground up and the flour used to make a delicious and inexpensive porridge. It is said that it was at Ife that the gods descended from heaven and created the world. The Okays make up 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5% and Tiv 2.5%. Nigeria's rich cultural heritage boasts of huge eclectic and colourful festivals that are full of rhythm, brilliant colours, fun and great pace. The pioneer of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti, became internationally famous in the 1970s and 1980s and has inspired generations of Western artists, such as Talking Heads and Beyonc. "[67] Nigeria has other notable writers of English language literature. Since then, Nigerian and African patterns, colour schemes, and motifs have been incorporated into Vlisco's designs to become a staple of the brand. The Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria commonly called Ndi Igbo are a very cultural set of people. Try to avoid using hyperbole or making exaggerated claims when presenting a business case as Nigerians are naturally suspicious of a deal that sounds too good to be true. 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. Art is created serve many purposes, among these are: 1. The importance of culture in Nigeria cannot be overestimated. Various other minor ethnic groups make up the rest of the country. Some of these dialects include Egba, Ekiti, Ijesha, Egun etc. The culture of Nigeria is shaped by Nigeria's multiple ethnic groups. Although Lagos is located in the southwest region of Nigeria, Lagos is a port city with an International Airport and is considered to be Nigerias center of commerce. Nigerians celebrate several holidays throughout the year, including Independence Day (October 1), Workers Day (May 1), and various Christian and Islamic holidays. Always make time to share a tea with people you're doing business with. Minority ethnic groups live throughout the nation although higher concentrations of these groups live in the northern and the middle regions of Nigeria. Rice is eaten throughout the country, and in the north grains such as millet and wheat are a large part of the diet. This number includes 510 living languages, 2 second languages without native speakers and 9 extinct languages. Kanuri, Fulani, and Hausa peoples are a majority in the north region of Nigeria. The yams can be mashed or fried in oil. 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. The Nigerian national football team,[73] nicknamed the "Super Eagles", is the national team of Nigeria, run by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). 34 New House, 67-68 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8JY, UK. His personalized sound, dubbed Afrobeat, is now one of the continent's most widely recognised genres. Before looking at the importance and types of culture in Nigeria, its good to know the definition. [48][49], The Yoruba people are said to be one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, alongside the Igbo and the Hausa-Fulani peoples. Drinks include traditional brews like palm wine. These environmental regions greatly affect the cultures of the people who live there. Although the role of the extended family is diminishing somewhat in urban areas, there remains a strong tradition of mutual caring and responsibility among the members. 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. Nigerian playwright and musician Hubert Ogunde, founder of Nigerias first professional theatrical company (the Ogunde Concert Party), incorporated traditional instruments into his musical dramas of the 1940s in an effort to revive interest in indigenous culture. It is used for decoration and beautification. A Hausa farmer. Other forms of traditional food include fufu, eba, okra, egusi, and ogbono. The Yoruba language is pleasing to the ear as it places a lot of emphasis on intonation. You may also find their tone slightly louder than elsewhere. The difference in the way we work, live and interact with each other is as a result of the culture we have come to be a part of. However In November 2015, Ministry of Culture and Tourism was later merged with ministry of information, which is now known as Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. One way that Nigeria is unique is through its heritage. The Yoruba culture emphasizes respect for elders which is why ladies kneel and men prostrate to greet their elders. This is especially true when speaking their native language, although many of the same characteristics have been carried into their English language usage. The ladies wear their hair in traditional styles and complement their looks with a lot of jewellery, ornaments, and paintings. Wole Soyinka, who won the 1986 Nobel Prize for Literature, was the first Black African to receive the award. In Nigeria, the common greeting, How are you doing? is frequently met with a hearty, Fine, thank God!. Soups can be thickened by adding ground egusi (melon) seeds. Several streams also flow into the caves . 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. Age and position always demand great respect. 6. 5. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country of almost 200 million people. Tags: Importance Of Culture In Nigeria,Types Of Culture In Nigeria. Families gather to celebrate births and weddings. The official language of Nigeria, English, was chosen to facilitate the cultural and linguistic unity of the country post-colonization by the British. Can culture exist without society? Social standing and recognition is achieved through extended families. It used for . Make certain that your title is prominently displayed. The Ijaw people are said by some to be the descendants of the autochthonous people of Africa known as the (H) ORU.