Federal republic of Nigeria
English
Ohannjiko ohaneze Naijiriya Igbo
Orile-ede olominira Apapo ile Naijiria Yoruba
Jamhuruiyar taraiyar Nijeriya Hausa
Nigeria
Capital Abuja
Largest city Lagos
Official language English
Major languages Igbo Hausa Yoruba
Other languages Edo, Efik, Fulani, Idoma,
Ijaw, Kanuri,
Itshekiri, Urobo, Isoko, Igala, Nupe, Ibibio, Gwari,
Tiv,Margi, Jukun, Katab
MAP OF NIGERIA
Nigeria officially the federal republic of Nigeria is a
federal constitutional republic comprising 36states and its federal capital
territory Abuja. There are over 400 ethnic groups in Nigeria of which the three
largest are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger
river running through the country.
Nigeria known as the giant of Africa is the most populous
country in Africa and the seventh most populous country in the world. Nigeria
is divided in half between Christians who live in the south and central part of
the country and Muslims mostly in the north. A minority of the population
practice traditional and local religion including the Igbo's and Yoruba
religion.
NIGERIAN PEOPLE BY ETHNIC OR NATIONAL ORIGIN
A ABRAKA, AFEMAI,AFUSARI, AGBASSA,AKUNAKUNA, ALUOSHAERAEN
SHRINE,
ANAANG PEOPLE, ANGA PEOPLE,ANLOEWE, ANWAIN, ARO PEOPLE, ATYAP
PEOPLE,AWORI TRIBE.
B. BALI PEOPLE,BARIBA PEOPLE, BEROM PEOPLE, BETE
PEOPLE,BUDUMA PEOPLE,
C. CHAMBA PEOPLE, CHINESE PEOPLE IN NIGERIA,
D. DAMAKAWA,DEFAKA PEOPLE,DENDI PEOPLE.
E. EBIRA PEOPLE, EKET PEOPLE,EKOI PEOPLE,EDDA PEOPLE,EDO
PEOPLE,EFIK
PEOPLE,EGBA PEOPLE,EKPEYE PEOPLE, ELEME PEOPLE,ELOYI PEOPLE,EMAI
PEOPLE,
ESAN PEOPLE,ETSAKOR PEOPLE,EWE PEOPLE
F. FALI PEOPLE,FILLIPINOS IN NIGERIA,FON PEOPLE,FULA PEOPLE
G. GBAGYI PEOPLE,GOKANA KINGDOM
H. HAUSA PEOPLE,HAUSA-FULANI
I. IBIBIO PEOPLE, IDOMA PEOPLE, IGALA PEOPLE,IGBO PEOPLE,
IGUE, IJAW,IKPIDE,
IKWERE,ISOKO,ISU,ITSHEKIRI,IWELLEMMEDAN
J. JUKUN PEOPLE
K. KAMUKU,KANURI, KELE, KILBA, KIRDI, KOFYAR,KOMA IN ADAMAWA,
K. KAMUKU,KANURI, KELE, KILBA, KIRDI, KOFYAR,KOMA IN ADAMAWA,
KOTOKO,KURTEY,
KUTEB
L .LONGUDA
M. MAFA, MAGUZAWA, HAUSA, MAMBILA, MUMUYE
N. NGIZIM, NKOROO, NUPE
O. ODUOHA-EMOHUA, OGONI, OGUGU, OLOGHE, ORON
S. SARO
T. TAROK, TIV, TUAREG
U. UMUOJI,UROBO
W. WODAABE
Y. YERWA KANURI PEOPLE, YEWA CLAN, YORUBA
Z. ZARMA
ETHNIC MAPS OF NIGERIA
BRIEF HISTORY
The NOK PEOPLE OF NIGERIA
The Nok people of central Nigeria produced the earliest
terracotta sculptures found in the country. in the northern part of the country,
Kano and Katsina have a recorded history dating back to 999AD. Hausa kingdom
and the Kanem-Bornu empire prospered. As trade posts between north and west Africa.
also in the north west beginning of the 19th century under Usman Dan Fodio. the Fulani led the centralized Fulani empire
which continued until 1903, when the fulani population and land were divide
into the various European colonies. between 1750 and 1900. One to two thirds of
the population of the Fulani jihad states consisted of slaves
IFE AND OYO OF NIGERIA
The Yoruba kingdom of Ife and Oyo in southwestern Nigeria became
prominent in the 12th and 14th century respectively. Yoruba mythology states
that Ile Ife is the source of the human race and that it predates any other
civilization. the oldest signs of human settlement dates back to the 19th century.
Ife produced terracotta and bronze figures and Oyo once extended from western Nigeria
to Togo. The kingdom of Benin is located in the southern western Nigeria. Benin's
power lasted between the 15th and 19th century. Their dominance reached as far
as the city of Eko and further.
NRI KINGDOM OF NIGERIA
The kingdom of Nri of the Igbo people started in the 10th century
and continued until it lost its sovereignty to the British in 1911. It is one
of the oldest kingdoms in Nigeria. Nri was ruled by eze Nri and the city of Nri
is considered to be the foundation of the Igbo culture. Nri and Aguleri where
the Igbo creation myth originates are in the territory of the Umueri clan. They
trace their linage back to the patriarchal king figure Eri. The oldest piece of
bronzes made out of the lost wax process in western Africa were from Igbo-Ukwu
a city under Igbo influence.
ORIGIN OF
THE NIGERIAN CULTURES
CULTURE. The Nigerian culture includes geography and
environment, natural resources, climate and migration. Geography and
environment can be seen as determinants of culture. By geography as a
determinant we mean culture determined by the geographical location of a
particular society and by environment we mean the physical immediate
surroundings of a particular societal group. This factors tends to determine
the cultural beliefs and values of a particular ethnic group. The religion of a
people is also determined by the environment for example, The river rine
dwellers tends to worship the water gods and goddess. The people that live on
mountains and forest regions tend to worship hill gods and trees respectively.
It was stated that the culture of the people cannot be detached from its
environment.
NATURAL RESOURCES. The natural endowments of a society
serves as a determinant of its culture. The raw material available in an environment
helps to determine the traditions of the people it surrounds in the sense that
the natural resource serves as a means in shaping their behavior and values.
for example, the presence of rocks can facilitate paintings in art works on
rocks. Also the presence of elephant in an environment can facilitate the
production of ivory. The presence of iron ore can bring up the production of
iron weapons or tools.
CLIMATE. The climate
of a place also helps to determine the peoples culture, this is because the
climate is a natural phenomenon that helps to determines the occupation of a society.
It also helps to determine their mode of housing and dressing and what they
eat.
NOK CULTURE. Nok culture appeared in Nigeria around 100BC in
the region of west Africa. This region lies in central Nigeria. The culture social
system is believed to have been highly advanced. The Nok culture is considered
to have been the earlier sub-Saharan producer of life sized terracotta. It is believed
that this Nok society later evolved into the later Yoruba kingdom of Ife. The refinement
of this culture is attested to by that image of a Nok dignitary at the Minneapolis
institute of art. The dignitary is
portrayed wearing a shepherds crook affixed with an elastic material to the
right Avon. The dignitary is also portrayed sitting with flared nostrils and an
open mouth suggesting performance. The iron used in smelting and forging of
tools appeared in Nok culture in Africa around 500BC.
ILE-IFE. Ile-Ife is an ancient Yoruba city in western Nigeria.
The origin of this people dates back 600BC. According to a mythical story. It
is the oldest organized community on planet. It is located in the present day Osun
state.
Ife is known as the city of 401 0r 201 deities. It is said
that every day of the year, traditional worshippers celebrate the festival of
one of these deities. The most spectacular festivals are those that demands
participation of the king. They include the Ifepa festival for obatala and
obameri.
Between 700 and 900AD, Ife began to develop as a major
artistic center, important people were depicted with large heads because the
artists believed that the Ase was held in the head. There houses featured potsherd
pavements. Ife is known worldwide for its ancient and naturalistic bronze stone
and terracotta sculpture.
The culture of Ife is said to have been influenced by Nok
culture, it also influenced the cultures of Igbo Ukwu and Benin. The main
features of Ife people includes iron working and craft specialization. Ife art
as it is known includes wood carving and potsherd pavements. Ife brass heads
are made up of copper and zinc and the terracotta heads have vertical facial
marks on them.
IGBO-UKWU. ( GREAT IGBO) Is a town in Anambra state that's
in Nigeria. It was the site of three famous archeologist. This site revealed a
highly sophisticated metal-working culture. The first Igbo Isaiah was uncovered
in 1938 by Isaiah Anozie, a local villager who discovered the bronze works while
digging beside his home. Subsequent excavations by Thurston Shaw in 1959
resulted in the discovery of other two sites, The remains of an ancient culture
including jewelry, ceramics, a corpse adorned in what appears to be a regalia
and many assorted bronze, copper and iron objects were also discovered. Radio
carbon dating placed the sites around 10th century or earlier which would make
the Igbo-Ukwu culture the earliest known example of bronze casting in the
region centuries before the more famous Ife bronze. There are three archeological
sites in the southern Nigeria associated with the Nri Igbo. These sites are Igbo
Isaiah ( a shrine ) Igbo Richard (a burial chamber) and Igbo Jonah ( a cache). Artifacts
recovered from the sites include the earliest bronze materials in sub Saharan Africa.
ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES IN IGBO-UKWU. The sites in Igbo-Ukwu offers
us great insight about the history of the country Nigeria. The site is situated
at the edge o f a rainforest to the east of the Niger river and a little to the
north of its delta.
Excavations began in 1960 a few years after accidental discoveries
of important finds. These excavations un earthen three important finds, the burial
of an important person, a repository of sophisticated regalia and a ritual
disposal pit. These sites un earthen a wealth of bronze objects and glass and
stone beads which is one of the key features of archeological sites in Igbo-Ukwu.
