Understanding Nigerian CultureNigeria is a land of almost 400 linguistic groups and each of these groups bring a distinct set of cultures and tradition that reflects the complexity of this diverse country and make up what is referred to as Nigerian culture. It was not until the late 1950’s during the struggle for independence from Great Britain that the people who live in this part of Africa began to see themselves as Nigerians. Before then these various ethnic groups in Nigeria have their own established way of life and culture. And as the country approaches her 50th year of independence the Nigerian culture is evolving day by day to accommodate the influence of religion, civilization and economic changes. And that brings up the question – are Nigerians proud of their country? Are Nigerians proud of their Culture? Are Nigerians proud of their heritage? Sure we are, like a former Nigerian head of state said we have no other country but Nigeria. However the culture of corruption fueled by decades of poor governance has diminished the glory of our cultural heritage. And what is left of this cultural heritage has greatly been altered by European and Islamic influence. The line between culture and modernization is rapidly getting blurry especially in the southern part of the country. In the northern part of the country, Islam has greatly influenced what is allowed and what is not allowed in the society and thereby has shaped the lifestyle and culture of the people.
If you are planning to visit Nigeria or you are just trying to understand Nigerian culture, you will need the dual virtues of tolerance and patience. Actually these virtues are not limited to Nigeria alone, anyone who has traveled outside their country or who have dealt with someone from another cultural background will tell you the same. Having traveled to nine countries and being married to someone from another cultural background I have experienced first hand the soothing powers of patience and tolerance, and when it comes to Nigeria you will need a little bit more of the latter. Ok, let us look at the different aspect of the Nigerian culture that you are most likely going to be exposed to. Marriage:Are you planning on marrying a Nigerian or are you open to that possibility? Well the good news is that Nigerians have a strong family value. I must admit however that the strong non negotiable need to “make money” may cloud many Nigerians perception of marriage. In Nigeria marriage is widely regarded to be a lasting union between a man and a woman. That will explain why divorce rate is very low. The marriage process is very simple in some parts of the country, but in other parts of the country marriage process can go from being very elaborate to being quite difficult. In the Northern part of the country, the institution of marriage and wedding processes are mostly governed by strict Islamic laws. In the southern part of the country, wedding process can go from simple to an elaborate process that involves Introduction, Traditional wedding and then a western style wedding. Festival:Festivals and traditional ceremonies are some of the areas where culture is more colorfully displayed in Nigerian. Since many of the festivals in Nigeria predate the arrival of the colonial masters they provide an interesting insight to the Nigerian culture. Many Nigerian festivals have now become a fascinating tourist attraction.
Religion:To say that most Nigerians are religious could be an understatement. Religion is deeply interwoven in every aspect of life in Nigeria. I asked a British friend of mine who visited Nigeria recently what are the most popular things or trend he saw in Nigeria and his reply was God and Football. Officially there is a separation of Religion and State. So if you are on an official trip, Religion will not be involved, but chances are that the person sitting in front of you is deeply religious. So don’t be surprised if references to Religion is made and don’t be afraid to make religious statement, however try to find out the religion of your host as he/she may only be inclined to entertain gestures that are supportive of his/her Faith. Click here for more information on Nigerian Religion . Fashion:You cannot mistake a Nigerian in his/her native dress. It is distinct, colorful, elegant and sometimes extravagant. Dressing is one of the areas that Nigerians identify most with their culture. Nigerians savor any opportunity to dress up whenever one presents itself. Churches, Mosques, work, parties, official functions are all occasions to dress up.
The Nigerian fashion industry is rapidly evolving, supported by stylish Nigerian designers many of whom are internationally renowned. Fashion is very fashionable now in Nigeria. People are acutely aware of their appearances; add that to the fact that Nigeria is a place where people are routinely judged by where they live, the car they drive, how nourished they look and you have a society where you must look good. Nigerian Names:In Nigeria, names are more than part of your identity, it reveals a lot about who you are. For example my name is Valentine Onyebuchi Okafor. That tells you that I am a Nigeria, that I am from the south east of Nigeria, that I am a Christian ,that most likely I was born a Catholic and even hints at my presumed identity at the time of my birth. That’s how revealing Nigerian names can be. Nigerians follows a meticulous naming convention and every name ought to have a meaning.Click here for more information about Nigerian names. Literature:The pool of literary artists in Nigeria helps to confirm some long held view that Nigeria is blessed with more human resources than mineral resources. Coming from a lowly beginning, Nigerian literary artists are making a positive contribution to the Nigerian culture at home and in the Diaspora. Chinua Achebe’s Things fall apart has been published in over 50 languages and has sold over 10 million copies. Wole Soyinka became the first black African writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Ben Okri, Cyprian Ekwensi, Ken Saro Wiwa, Buchi Emecheta, Flora Nwapa are some of the Nigerian literary artists who have made their mark in literature. Click here for more information on Nigerian literature. Arts: Nigeria has over 2000 years of history in arts. Art has been an important part of the Nigerian culture even before the arrival of the Europeans. Recent archaeological evidence has shown that art was thriving among the agricultural people of NOK in Northern Nigeria between 500BC to 200 AD. Their forms of art included Sculptures, mask, and paintings. As early as the 15th century the artists of Benin kingdom were producing many excellent bronze sculptures and brass heads, figurines, brass plaques, and large rectangular metal pictures some of which were used to decorate the Oba's palace. After Oba Eweka II lifted the ban of the sale of arts works, Benin arts began to be exported to Europe. Sports:Sports has become a favorite past time in Nigeria. Football is by far the most popular sports in Nigeria. It is both a unifying and an inspiring factor in Nigeria. During competitions, Nigerians rally together behind their national team as one people with one goal – to win. And the national teams have had their moments of glory and some low points as well. Other popular sports in Nigeria include track and fields, table tennis (ping pong), volley ball, basket ball, boxing, wrestling etc. Many Nigerians has achieved fame in sports, and their achievements serves as big motivation to aspiring athletes. A Nigerian, Emmanuel Ifeajuna won a gold medal in the commonwealth game of 1954; Dick Tiger a Nigeria born boxer won 60 of his 81 fights. Other Nigerian sports heroes include: Power Mike, Fatai Ayinla, Segun Odegbami, Christian Chukwu, Chioma Ajunwa etc Monarchs:Before the onset of colonialism, the area know as Nigeria today exited as different empires and kingdom ruled by traditional rulers and monarchs known as Emir, Oba, Igwe, Obi etc. Some of these traditional rulers are very powerful and has standing armies just like every other monarch in the world as then. One of the most powerful of these empires and monarchs at that time was the Sokoto empire founded and ruled by the Emir of Sokoto. At one time this empire stretched a whooping 1500 kilometers covering areas from Dori in modern day Burkina Faso to southern Adamawa in Cameroon and included Nupe lands, Ilorin in northern Yoruba land, and much of the Benue River valley. Other powerful and established monarchs that exist up to this day include:
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