Several festivals are celebrated in Yorubaland yearly where the rich culture of the Yoruba people is displayed. 4) Lots of oil, little electricity. If the information has changed, have new cards printed. They are well known for their energetic dance steps, colourful attires, and masquerades. Minority ethnic groups live throughout the nation although higher concentrations of these groups live in the northern and the middle regions of Nigeria. Prior to conducting business in a foreign country, understanding the countrys cultural landscape, people, beliefs, and cultural nuances are imperative. In addition, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, and Naija Invest Gateway, provide real-time information on the Nigerian business culture. Tribal marks used to be widely popular amongst Yorubas but that culture is fast washing out amongst modern Yoruba descendants. 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? Although this militant activity concerns the entire nation, these groups primarily impact the northeast region of Nigeria. The climate in Nigeria is typically hot, ranging from 28 38 degrees Celsius depending on the time of the year. Due to the ethnic make-up of the country, communication styles vary. Yoruba people, for example, have different dishes like Amala, Ogbono, Moin Moin, Ofada Rice, and Efo Riro. 968 Words4 Pages. 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. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. [17][18], Nigeria's other ethnic groups, sometimes called 'minorities', are found throughout the country but especially in the north and the middle belt. Photo by Oladimeji Odunsi on Unsplash, Catching a ride for the morning commute into work in Lagos. 56 Likes, 1 Comments - Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria (@kccnigeria_) on Instagram: "Winners of the KCCN "Introduce Your Korea" Event 5 " ' " For men their traditional cap is called fila. Regardless of the countrys developmental struggles, Nigerians enjoy interacting with their community. All this diversity makes the unification of Nigerians into a single nation a rather difficult task. Below are some of the most notable things about Nigerian culture. Warning Sign 1: Little Investment Into People. In return the most senior person has the responsibility to make decisions that are in the best interest of the group. The Yorubas are a diverse group of people bound together by language, history, culture and a common sense of origin. Other clothing gear includes a gele, which is the woman's headgear. Igbo, Hausa, Kanuri, Fulani, Yoruba, Ijaw, Ibibio, and Tiv are some of the major groups that make up the maximum population of Nigeria. Annual Lecture on China. This group is predominantly Muslim as Islam was introduced into Nigeria by the Fulanis. In the course of socialization the values, ideals, norms, patterns of behavior become a part of a person's self-awareness. However, pidgin English and indigenous languages are also spoken throughout the country. The constitution guarantees religious freedom. Beautifully crafted sculptures of wood, brass, and terracotta are common things among the Yoruba. Igbo dominate in the south-central and southeastern parts of the country. People in urban regions of Nigeria dress in western style, the youth mainly wearing jeans and T-shirts. Some would argue that the real soundtrack of Nigeria is not Afrobeats, but the din of diesel generators as most Nigerians, even if they are connected to mains . [86] The men wear buba (long shirt), sokoto (baggy trousers), agbada (flowing robe with wide sleeves) and fila (a hat). Age and position earns, even demands, respect. Here are a few commonly used saying in Nigeria that are worth noting: Nigeria is a very diverse and dynamic country. Nigeria is the most populous countries in Africa, and also amongst the top 20 most diverse countries in the world. 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. 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. The Palm Wine Drinkard, a popular novel by Amos Tutuola, was written in it. Nigeria is a democratic country whose federal government resides in the countrys capital, Abuja, which is located in the middle of the country. It is believed that the Igbo people originated in an area that is about 100 miles north of their current location at the confluence of the Niger and Benue Rivers. Clearly, the system of culture is not only complex and diverse, but also very mobile. Academic and Higher Education Webinars, C.V. Starr & Co. Lagos is a bustling city that has become a melting pot of Nigerian tribes. The ladies wear their hair in traditional styles and complement their looks with a lot of jewellery, ornaments, and paintings. Presently, Nigerias religious landscape is generally dominated by Christianity in the South and Islam in the North. They tend to examine behaviour in its total context, not merely what they have observed. They shape and regulate his behavior. However, even with the countrys infrastructural challenges, there are still quality hotels, restaurants, and innovative transportation options, such as Uber and Taxify that are available. The women wear their hair in native styles such as Suku. Other forms of traditional food include fufu, eba, okra, egusi, and ogbono. The yams can be mashed or fried in oil. [23], The Binis, also called the Edo people,[25] are people of the South South region of modern Nigeria; they are said to be around 3.8 million as of the 21st Century. This is why gaining an understanding of Nigerian culture is so crucial to your business success in the Nigerian market. Afghanistan - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette. Historically, Nigerian fashion incorporated many different types of fabrics. The principal exports are palm oil and palm kernels. Nigeria is the most populous countries in Africa, and also amongst the top 20 most diverse countries in the world according to this 2013 Pew Research study. A little more than half of all Nigerians are of the Christian faith, while most of the rest are Islamic. Here are 10 interesting facts about Nigeria: 1. In cities like, Lagos and Port Harcourt traffic is very bad, and it takes skillful scheduling to avoid getting caught in it. PLEASE SHARE IT IF YOU FOUND IT USEFUL! The people of ancient Nigeria were able to make their own weapons. 4. This number includes 510 living languages, 2 second languages without native speakers and 9 extinct languages. 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. Families gather to celebrate births and weddings. 5. Muslims observe Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, and the two Eids. Apart from culture, society does not have any other mechanisms with which to concentrate and gather the wealth of the experience that has been accumulated by previous generations. As its name indicates, Port Harcourt is another port city that also hosts an international airport. As a developing country, Nigeria faces challenges regarding its infrastructure. 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. With nearly 200 million inhabitants, it also happens to be one of the world's largest countries by population. Unfortunately, in our country, some subcultures oppose each other which lead to the spread of cultural differences in Nigeria. These are also important aspects of our culture. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); TYPES OF CULTURE IN NIGERIA AND THEIR IMPORTANCE (2023). Kingdoms and empires of precolonial Nigeria, Controversies surrounding the 2007 presidential election, Nigeria under Umaru Musa YarAdua and Goodluck Jonathan, The 2015 elections and electorate concerns, Recession, fight against corruption, and insecurity, Which Country Is Larger By Population? The larger number of families is because a higher number of children improves the social standing of a man. [19] The Fulani and the Hausa are mostly Muslim, while the Igbo are mostly Christian and so are the Bini and the Ibibio. Hotels and nightclubs are part of the landscape of the larger cities. [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. Fashion is diverse and varies depending on the ethnic groups, culture, and religion. [77], The music of Nigeria includes many kinds of folk and popular music, some of which are known worldwide. The country also has the largest agricultural output and the highest number of cattle. They look for the rationale behind behaviour and attempt to understand the context. Food and eating food is a universal experience, an element of common ground in terms of . This policy document defined culture as " the totality of the way of life evolved by a people in their attempt to meet the challenges in their environment which gives order and meaning to their social, political, economic, aesthetic and religious . While that may be a lot of people, population . The eastern part of Nigeria is the home of the Igbos, who are mostly Christians. [84], Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups[85] and as a result, a wide variety of traditional clothing styles. Smiling and showing sincere pleasure at meeting the person is important. In the southwest, where the people are from the Yoruba tribe, peoples communication employs proverbs, sayings and even songs to enrich the meaning of what they say. Other Nigerian writers with a worldwide audience include Chinua Achebe, Buchi Emecheta, Flora Nwapa, Amos Tutuola, Gabriel Okara, Kole Omotoso, John Pepper Clark, Ben Okri, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. [63][64], Nigerian Nobel laureate[65] Wole Soyinka[66] described the work as "the first novel in English which spoke from the interior of the African character, rather than portraying the African as an exotic, as the white man would see him. Culture unites people, integrates them, and ensures their strength as a community. The significance of Ife culture in Nigerian history will be discussed below: The Origin of Ife Culture in Nigeria In Yoruba land, Ife is considered the place of creation. Most weekdays. 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. Prioritize employee satisfaction. The most important issue of cultural development is certainly the issue of creation of either national Nigerian, or affirmation of ethnic cultural identity. Another major Nigerian city is Port Harcourt. At the time of independence, many hoped that as a huge, democratic country, Nigeria would provide Africa with a seat at the table among the traditional international powers. The way of life of any society involves a number of areas (labour, politics, economics, ethics, aesthetics, law, family, religion, etc). 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. The headquarter of Yorubaland is Ile-life where they believe creation started. 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. 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. It is a good idea to include any advanced university degree on your business card. Things arent perfect, but Im grateful for what I have., Factors to be Aware of When Visiting Nigeria for Business. February 13, 2023 They are extremely tolerant of the languages of other people around them, leading to the suppression of theirs - especially in northern Nigeria by Hausa. 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. [online] Available at: https://commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/afghanistan-guide [Accessed ENTER DATE]. 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]. This is not a first name culture, although that may be changing with people under the age of 35. Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual. [78], Traditional musicians use a number of diverse instruments, such as Gongon drums. The Yoruba people live in the southwestern and north-central parts of Nigeria. Four Aboriginal spears taken by British explorer James Cook in 1770, thought to be some of the oldest surviving artifacts collected by any European from Australia, will be repatriated to "[67] Nigeria has other notable writers of English language literature. This is one of the tools used by the government to create a more conducive and secured environment. Men may place their left hand on the other persons shoulder while shaking hands. [57] Led by the Nigerian traditional rulers (i.e. The kora and the kakaki are also important. In Nigeria, there are more than 500 languages that are spoken. 3 Best Alternative Digital Banks in Nigeria for Online Transaction. Therefore, culture serves as a social memory for mankind. Before looking at the importance and types of culture in Nigeria, its good to know the definition. Descending into the valley is a lengthy walkway of 317 steps, which were constructed by the state government. Ekpe masks and ikenga (personal shrines) from the Igbo in eastern Nigeria and ibeji (twin) sculptures from the Yoruba in western Nigeria are just three examples of the art produced in pre-colonial Nigeria. Nigeria culture plays an important role in lives of separate individuals and the society as the whole.