About Nigerian Culture
Nigeria is a country located on the Western coast of Africa and is the continent's most populous country. The name was taken from the Niger River, which runs through the country. Nigeria is one of the world's fastest growing economies. Like many African countries, Nigerian culture is a conglomeration of many ethnic African tribes.
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Diversity
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Nigerian culture is a conglomeration of numerous tribal cultures of the area. The three largest contributing cultures are the Yoruba, Hausa Fulani and Igbo but other ethnic groups' traditions are woven through Nigerian culture.
Arts
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The production of art is central to Nigerian culture. Prominent types of art are ivory carving, grass weaving, wood carving, leather working, pottery and painting. Most art serves as social or religious role and is not generally produced solely for art's sake.
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Dance and Music
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Dance and music are two of the most visible forms of Nigerian culture. Both are defined by a strong rhythm and originated from religious ceremonies. Nigerian music almost always uses a drum but modern music has welcomed the guitar and American jazz influences.
Food
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Food is central to any religious or social ceremony among all Nigerian ethnicities and tribes. At the end of every ceremony, participants share a meal together. It is considered impolite to not invite a guest to share a meal or to turn down an invitation to a meal. Traditional Nigerian food is eaten with your right hand and generally consists of staple food items such as yams, corn or onion, and a stew.
Language
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The national language of Nigeria is English. However, each of the 250 tribes in Nigeria have their own language that they use to communicate with other tribe members. Only half of the Nigerian population speaks English. Those that don't speak English speak Hausa, the country's second language, or a mix of African language and English called Pidgin to communicate with those outside their tribes.
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References
- Photo Credit nigeria flag icon. (with clipping path) image by Andrey Zyk from Fotolia.com
