In fact, over 250 languages and dialects are used across Nigerias 36 states. However, none of the states in southern Nigeria allow this practice. The language they speak is called the Edo language. Very direct eye contact may be interpreted as being intrusive unless there is a longstanding personal relationship. [40][41] Socially, the Igbos are led by monarchs who had limited power historically. Women wear long flowing robes and headscarves made by local makers who dye and weave the fabric locally. November 4, 2022 8 major groups account for 90% of Nigeria's population: Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Ijaw, Kanuri, Fulani, Ibibio, Tiv. Their logic is often contextual. 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. Global Climate Agreements: Successes and Failures, Backgrounder We're helping multinational clients adequately prepare to thrive in the African market. Can culture exist without society? Always wait until invited before using someones first name. 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. Language is the most important way of mastering the national culture. Kanuri, Fulani, and Hausa peoples are a majority in the north region of Nigeria. Because so many Nigerians live outside the country, funerals for non-Muslims are often delayed for a month or more to allow all the family members to make plans to return home. Shake hands at the beginning and end of meetings. Extended families are still the norm and are in fact the backbone of the social system. Let's appreciate and preserve our culture and traditions and use them as vehicles towards our development, growth, and unity. The Yoruba people eventually formed many kingdoms of various different sizes, each of which was centered on a capital city or town and that was being ruled by a hereditary king known as an oba. The major Christian celebrations of Christmas and Easter are recognized as national holidays. 34 New House, 67-68 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8JY, UK. Culture - Federal Ministry of Information and Culture In the southern areas a variety of soups containing a base of tomatoes, onions, red pepper, and palm oil are prepared with vegetables such as okra and meat or fish. 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. 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 Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria commonly called Ndi Igbo are a very cultural set of people. Hotels and nightclubs are part of the landscape of the larger cities. Wole Soyinka, who won the 1986 Nobel Prize for Literature, was the first Black African to receive the award. Lots of Yoruba people still practice the traditional religion but a large number have embraced Christianity and Islam. Daily life in Nigeria varies based on location, and whether you reside in the city or rural areas. 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. Generally speaking, Nigerians are outgoing and friendly. Notable musicians include King Sunny Ade, who performed in a style called juju that combines the sounds of several guitars, vocals, and talking drums; and the politically charged Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, whose music is characterized by short songs and extended instrumental pieces. For example, it is typical for Nigerians to have three weddings, unless they are getting married to foreigners. 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. 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. Traditional instruments include various types of flutes, trumpets, musical bows, xylophones, and wooden clappers, as well as many varieties of drums. [37], The Igbo people, commonly and often referred to as Ibo people, are one of the largest ethnic groups to ever exist in Africa; they have a total population of about 20 million people. Commisceo Global Consulting Ltd. 2022 All Rights Reserved. [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. Here are 10 interesting facts about Nigeria: 1. Meaning of Arts | Branches/Types of Art | Importance Uses of Art Even though most ethnic groups prefer to communicate in their own languages, English, being the official language, is widely used for education, business transactions and for official purposes. Its an active process, a lifestyle of people which is constantly growing, evolving and mutating. This group is predominantly Muslim as Islam was introduced into Nigeria by the Fulanis. 4) Lots of oil, little electricity. The Igbo ethnic group most produce and trade in oil, cocoa and rubber. [60], Nigeria is famous for its English language literature. The three main ethnic groups are the Yorubas of South Western Nigeria, the Igbos of Eastern Nigeria and the Hausa/Fulani ethnic group which dominates the North. Accelerate your innovation and transformation with a fully integrated suite of capabilities that puts digital at the heart of everything. Other clothing gear includes a gele, which is the woman's headgear. Nigeria - Geography 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. To rush a greeting is extremely rude; spend time inquiring about the other persons general well-being. The climate also varies slightly depending on the region. This is why gaining an understanding of Nigerian culture is so crucial to your business success in the Nigerian market. The fundamental issue here is what motivates people, wanting to be the best (masculine) or liking what you do (feminine). They look for the rationale behind behaviour and attempt to understand the context. The Top 10 Heritage Sites in Nigeria - Culture Trip English as a first language, however, remains an exclusive preserve of a small minority of the country's urban elite, and is not spoken at all in some rural areas. The Ijaws were originally known by this name (Oru); at least it was what their immediate neighbours assumed them to be. 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. Gifts from a man to a woman must be said to come from the mans mother, wife, sister, or other female relative, never from the man himself. On November 5, the New York Times ran on the first page of its business section a long piece on the emergence of luxury lifestyle publications in Nigeria. Native religions in which people believe in deities, spirits and ancestor worship, are spread throughout the country. Nigeria has a rich artistic heritage, including both traditional and contemporary art forms. Each tribe has different dishes that are unique to their culture. The Okays make up 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5% and Tiv 2.5%. This is also an important political issue, as the Nigerian federalism tried to put together the achievements of the modern democratic West European state and the local cultural traditions. Families are a crucial aspect of Nigerian society and are typically larger than in the west. 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. One way that Nigeria is unique is through its heritage. Yam is the main staple food of the Igbos which is why they celebrate the new yam festival every year when the harvesting of yam starts. However, pidgin English and indigenous languages are also spoken throughout the country. Importance Of Reading Culture In Nigeria - 4014 Words | 123 Help Me Commisceo Global Consulting Ltd. (2020). For men the loose-fitting shirt goes down to halfway down the thigh. Beautifully crafted sculptures of wood, brass, and terracotta are common things among the Yoruba. Nigeria has the largest population on the continent and the third-largest manufacturing sector. Perhaps that is happening first with respect to art and culture, rather than by the more conventional political and security means. Nigeria's rich cultural heritage boasts of huge eclectic and colourful festivals that are full of rhythm, brilliant colours, fun and great pace. Expect the first few meetings to be somewhat formal as your Nigerian counterparts continue to become comfortable with you as a person. Their religion, mode of dressing, food, marriage, and language are all unique. Therefore, culture serves as a social memory for mankind. 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. With so many different cultures and regions, food can vary greatly. It is a good idea to include any advanced university degree on your business card.