Nigeria is a land of diverse cultures, speaking a multitude of different languages. Despite our differences, there is real beauty in our diversity. The Federal Ministry of Tourism and Culture in its Fascinating Nigeria Magazine published the biggest cultural groups in Nigeria


Here are the 10 biggest cultural groups in Nigeria as of 2014;

Yoruba and Hausa

The Yoruba and Hausa are estimated to constitute about 21% of Nigeria’s population each. This means that the two cultures together almost make up half of Nigeria’s population.

Another amazing fact is that the two cultures extend significantly beyond Nigeria, with the Yorubas also found in Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso and Niger. In Nigeria, we have an estimated 35 million Yoruba people.

The Hausas on the other hand can be found in great numbers in south eastern Niger. They are also found in parts of Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Togo, Ghana, Sudan, and Gabon. Just like the Yorubas, there are about 35 million Hausa people in Nigeria

Igbo




The Igbo people found mostly in South Eastern Nigeria and some parts of the South South constitute 18% of the population of Nigeria. Due to the effects of migration and the Atlantic slave trade, there are descendant ethnic Igbo populations in countries such as Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, as well as outside Africa. Their exact population outside Africa is unknown, but today many African Americans and Afro Caribbeans are of Igbo descent.

There are an estimated 32 million Igbo people in Nigeria alone

Fulani

Constituting 11% of Nigeria’s population, the Fulani people are some of the most widely dispersed and culturally diverse of the peoples of Africa – and one of the most misunderstood too, if one might add. The Fulani are Africa’s biggest nomadic group, with their largest population outside Nigeria being found in Guinea, Cameroon, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Sudan, and Chad.

Their population is roughly estimated at 20 million peoples, with 13 million being nomads
Efik-Ibibio


The Efik, Annang and Ibibio people even though slightly different cultures are mostly grouped into one as they speak the same languages and originate from largely the same place.

These people are mainly found in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States of Nigeria and make up 7% of the nation’s population. They are also found in southwestern Cameroon including Bakassi, Ghana, Cameroon

Kanuri


The Kanuri people constitute 6% of Nigeria’s population and are found largely in the lands of the former Kanem and Bornu Empires in Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon. Some of the cultures called Kanuri are made up of various sub groups and dialects, as well.

There an approximate 7 million Kanuris in Nigeria

Edo

Edo or Bini is the name for the place, people and language of this ethnic group. Other Edo-speaking ethnic groups include the Esan, the Afemai, the Owan among others.

They make up 3% of Nigeria’s population.

The Edo are the descendants of the people who founded the former Benin Empire, which was located in South/Mid-Western Nigeria, encompassing what is now the Edo State of Nigeria, as well as surrounding areas


Tiv, Nupe and Ijaw

These three different tribes each make up 2% of Nigeria’s population.

The Tiv people, who are some of Nigeria’s biggest Agricultural producers are mostly found in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba. Outside Nigeria, they are found in neighbouring Cameroon. The estimated population of Tiv people in both Nigeria and Cameroon is 2 million people.

The Ijaw are a collection of peoples indigenous mostly to the forest regions of the Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers States within the Niger Delta in Nigeria. Some are resident in Akwa-Ibom, Edo, and Ondo states also in Nigeria. Outside Nigeria, they can be found mostly in Sierra Leone and as far east as Gabon along the Western Africa coastline.

The Nupe, traditionally called the Tapa by the neighbouring Yoruba, are an ethnic group located primarily in the Middle Belt and northern Nigeria, and are the dominant group in Niger State and an important minority in Kwara State

Source:http://www.360nobs.com/2015/10/nigeria-at-55-the-10-biggest-cultural-groups-in-nigeria/

Nice one @ OP, beautiful ladies. Anyone with useful information about the Yoruba and Hausa ladies ? The ladies look take away.

A country so rich culturally but gradually replacing all the beautiful cultural splendor with the slave master's culture

1. Parents will boldly teach their children English first before their mother tongue (My parents are guilty of this)

2. Personalizing or to extent of even sacrificing their own life to an alien religion ( Most people carry the religion for head pass the foreigners wey get am self)

3. Calling their own culture and believes idol worship, not knowing that western religion given to them is a Roman idol worship in disguise.

I can go on nd on..

k

The Kanuri are tall, with a stately, dignified look. This signifies their pride and appreciation for their past as rulers, as well as their present position of leadership and influence. Many Kanuri speak Hausa, Arabic, or another area language in addition to Kanuri.

@ Op

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Why describe some of these tribes with women only? Men also have cultural attires that depicts each tribe. Just an opinion!

Very informative .

Just as PMB said earlier today

We have all the attributes of a great nation. We are not there yet because the one commodity we have been unable to exploit to the fullest is unity of purpose.

I still believe we can achieve greatness.

I am pretty sure there are more Igalas than Nupes in Nigeria.

Ok..,.. Good to see that

The Igbo population should be greater than 32 million. The 35 million figure for Hausas in Nigeria seems somewhat exaggerated. There has never been a proper or true census done in Nigeria that truly reflects the actual population of ethnic groups in the country.

bigfrancis21:
The Igbo population should be greater than 32 million. The 35 million figure for Hausas in Nigeria seems somewhat exaggerated. There has never been a proper or true census done in Nigeria that truly reflects the actual population of ethnic groups in the country.

I still honestly doubt the Igbos outnumber the Fulbe, don't even start with the Hausas. You always assault us because of our high rate of reproduction yet you refuse to accept how large our population is. You my friend are a joke. Classic case of overdosing on the haterade.

ZelrothCloven:


I still honestly doubt the Igbos outnumber the Fulbe, don't even start with the Hausas. You always assault us because of our high rate of reproduction yet you refuse to accept how large our population is. You my friend are a joke. Classic case of overdosing on the haterade.

The issue with the North is land mass which people often translate to automatically mean huge population, which is entirely false. Truth be told, the population of the core North (excluding the middle belt) is concentrated in certain spots or areas, leaving the remaining area scarcely populated or empty.

The population of Hausas worldwide, taking into consideration populations in other countries too, is definitely a number but the actual figure in Nigeria is what I believe is strongly exaggerated. A british ex-colonial master has once attested to the exaggeration of the Hausa population out of selfish desires for a 'voting power'.

Nice one op. Beautiful beads and traditional outfits

A quick correction -Edo or Benin is the name of the place. Bini is a language just like Esan, afemai and the rest.......

proudly Nigerian
Hausa






........Arewa fc

Naija

One Nigeria!!!

I am yet to know what Nigerians are celebrating







Thos who own this country know theirselves






Nigeria ia not for all atall

If you see me kponou mu onye IGBO maka na a bu m onye IGBO nne le IGBO amakaaaaaa!!

Please can you change the Pix on the Ijaws.

What of the WAILERS.

All thanks to mary kay.

Abeg tell them make den no waka for for rain ooo.

11 NAIRALAND

lovely

Ok

Proudly Ibibio.
Akwa Ibom ado OK.

Happy Independence Day, People!