Nigeria is the most populous countries in Africa, and also amongst the top 20 most diverse countries in the world. [40][41] Socially, the Igbos are led by monarchs who had limited power historically. Gifts are not always opened when received. This attention comes after increased international consumption of Nigerias hugely popular film industry, Nollywood, which is already well-established across the African continent. Present and receive business cards with two hands or the right hand, never with the left. The number of languages currently estimated and catalogued in Nigeria is 521. 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. Many use gestures when communicating. Other traditions include the mother-in-law helping the daughter-in-law after giving birth and younger men going for apprenticeships with older and wealthier men. It is the sixth largest oil-producing nation and has a well-educated and industrious society. [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. Retrieved from https://commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/afghanistan-guide. Artefacts stolen from Benin sit on shelves of many foreign museums and in the private homes of foreigners. They look for the rationale behind behaviour and attempt to understand the context. A company culture that prioritizes high employee satisfaction sets itself up for payoff in the form of higher employee motivation, lower turnover rates and . This overview of Nigerian culture has, hopefully, provided you with the insight you need to ensure the successful expansion of your business, as a new entrant in the Nigerian market. The oldest person in a group is revered and honoured. According to Yoruba Mythology, this group of people believes that they are descendants of Oduduwa. by Lindsay Maizland . Nigerians typically hold a primary position of employment but are always on the lookout for other opportunities to generate supplemental income. Language is the most important way of mastering the national culture. Culture helps to accumulates, control and organise the human experience. [84], Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups[85] and as a result, a wide variety of traditional clothing styles. Nigeria's culture rooted in fashion, film, music, and literature translates into . 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. A Hausa farmer. It is a good idea to lower your eyes when meeting someone who is older or more senior. 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. Prior to conducting business in a foreign country, understanding the countrys cultural landscape, people, beliefs, and cultural nuances are imperative. There are many ways that these meals are prepared. Annual Lecture on China: Frayed RelationsThe United States and China, Virtual Event with Jeremi Suri They are extremely tolerant of the languages of other people around them, leading to the suppression of theirs - especially in northern Nigeria by Hausa. Nigerias vibrant popular culture reflects great changes in inherited traditions and adaptations of imported ones. The women wear wrappers and shirts and cover their heads with hijabs (veils).[89]. Cultural conflicts can arise within large communities as a result. When a person becomes a member of the society, he accumulates knowledge about language, symbols, values, norms, customs and traditions of that environment. Food is an important part of Nigerian life. Always wait until invited before using someones first name. Cotton has been used for over 500 years for fabric-making in Nigeria. 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 . The country is often discussed in terms of its regions (i.e., North, Southeast, and Southwest) and its dominant tribes. The Hausa and Fulani people live primarily in the North, the Igbo reside in the Southeast, and the Yoruba inhabit the Southwest. Pidgin English is a creolized form of the language. 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. 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. The Nigerian Government in September, 1988, launched the "National Cultural Policy". 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. Culture. This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) License. Other cultures, such as the Igbo used to wear clothes only for modesty in past times, which is unlike other cultures where clothing has always been a symbol of status. Never use the left hand only. Success, like in any other culture, is important to Nigerias citizens and is greatly revered in Nigerian culture. Close friends and family members often kiss and hug when meeting. 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. Nigeria has two seasons: rainy season, which occurs in April until September, and dry season, which is referred to as Harmattan. 5. T, HOW TO GET A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN IN NIGERIA, THE LARGEST SEAPORTS IN NIGERIA LISTS Things To Know About Them, PROBLEMS OF ETHNICITY IN NIGERIA AND SOLUTIONS. Therefore, culture serves as a social memory for mankind. Here are seven signs indicating you have a culture that values security. [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. 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. Since the 1990s the Nigerian movie industry, sometimes called "Nollywood", has emerged as a fast-growing cultural force all over Africa. 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. The language they speak is called the Edo language. Nigeria is a democratic country whose federal government resides in the countrys capital, Abuja, which is located in the middle of the country. We live in a multi-faceted country. THANKS FOR READING OUR GUIDE TO NIGERIA. It can be argued that the intellectual level of a society depends on how adequately that particular society can use its richest knowledge embedded in history and generations past. Nigerian People And Culture - All You Need To Know. Nigerian Food Culture and Customs: Three Yorb Sayings on It. Owing to the affinity they have with water, a significant number of the Ijaw people are discovered as migrant fishermen in camps that are as far west as Sierra Leone and as far east as Gabon. [26][27] They are an ethnic group that is primarily found in Edo State, and spread across the Delta, Ondo, and Rivers states of Nigeria in smaller concentrations. . Ekiti Yoruba dancers wear head masks so heavy that they can do only processional dances. This is due to the large number of ethnic groups that exist in the country. Igbo dominate in the south-central and southeastern parts of the country. Nigerians prefer to develop personal relationships prior to conducting business. Some more examples of their traditional dishes are eba, pounded yam, iyan, fufu and soups like okra, ogbono and egusi. [86] The men wear buba (long shirt), sokoto (baggy trousers), agbada (flowing robe with wide sleeves) and fila (a hat). The people of this tribe are gifted sculptors. The Ijaws were originally known by this name (Oru); at least it was what their immediate neighbours assumed them to be. [82] Perhaps the most popular fabric used in Nigerian fashion is Dutch wax print, produced in the Netherlands. Importance of culture Nigeria culture plays an important role in lives of separate individuals and the society as the whole. Many religions are followed in Nigeria. Beautifully crafted sculptures of wood, brass, and terracotta are common things among the Yoruba. The word "Ubinu" was used to depict and portray the royal administrative centre or capital proper of the kingdom, Edo. The climate also varies slightly depending on the region. The principal exports are palm oil and palm kernels. The official language of Nigeria, English, was chosen to facilitate the cultural and linguistic unity of the country post-colonization by the British. With nearly 200 million inhabitants, it also happens to be one of the world's largest countries by population. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Beans and root vegetables are ubiquitous. [citation needed] The first Igbo in the region may have moved onto the Awka-Orlu plateau between four and five thousand years ago. 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. These are the three main tribes in Nigeria, followed closely by the Edo people (southwest region), tribes in the Delta region (southernmost region), and the Benue State (Middle Belt region). 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. Dance for the Ubakala shows their value system, helps resolve conflicts, and also institutes change. The Igbo political system isnt strong which explains why they are not a politically strong unit within the Nigerian system. We are all different, but culture helps to unite us. [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. The population of Nigeria makes up 1/8 of the inhabitants of the African continent. In masculine countries people "live in order to work", managers are expected to be decisive and assertive, the emphasis is on equity, competition and . Presently, Nigerias religious landscape is generally dominated by Christianity in the South and Islam in the North. The early mosques built by men of this tribe were bright and colourful often including intricate engravings and elaborate designs. This is why gaining an understanding of Nigerian culture is so crucial to your business success in the Nigerian market. Photo by Ayoola Salako on Unsplash. 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. In the article, author Adenike Olanrewaju describes the emergence of publications Genevieve Magazine, Exquisite Magazine, Todays Woman, and Glam Africa. 4) Lots of oil, little electricity. The highest position Nigeria ever reached on the ranking was 5th, in April 1994. Nigeria's rich cultural heritage boasts of huge eclectic and colourful festivals that are full of rhythm, brilliant colours, fun and great pace. Due to the ethnic make-up of the country, communication styles vary. It also explores some of the challenges faced (legal and extralegal) in the protection of cultural heritage and discloses recent legal developments. Daily life in Nigeria varies based on location, and whether you reside in the city or rural areas. [46], Language and cultural studies suggest that they are related to the founders of the Great Nile Valley civilization complex (and possibly the lake Chad complex). 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. Any attempt to bypass this protocol will hamper your business success. In fact, a businesss success as a new entrant in a market often hinges on the understanding of the cultural landscape of the country in question. Social standing and recognition is achieved through extended families. Here are 10 interesting facts about Nigeria: 1. . Igbos are overwhelming Christians of Catholic extraction although a minority of them practice other religions such as Islam, Judaism, and the traditional Igbo religion. Other clothing gear includes a gele, which is the woman's headgear. Nigeria has the fastest growing economy in Africa and the highest GNP on the continent. Its an active process, a lifestyle of people which is constantly growing, evolving and mutating. The Igbo political system isnt strong which explains why they are not a politically strong unit within the Nigerian system. The terra-cotta figurines of the Nok are some of the earliest statues in existence from sub-Saharan Africa. 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.