So we can't even list up to 250 and I've been running my mouth anyhow.

I think we have up to 250. Go to the middle belt and North east.

Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Gombe, Taraba, Adamawa, Kwara, Borno, Niger, Borno and Kogi I can wager we have close to 200 different tribes in these states alone. Because they have a common lingua franca as Hausa makes us Underrate them.

While serving in Bauchi State I came across some tribes I have never heard of before.

Karekare in parts of Bauchi and Yobe State, Sayawa of Bauchi, Tangale of Gombe state, Egon in Nasarawa, Donga of Taraba. I have never heard of these people before in my life. They all have their distinct language and cultures though they still speak.

Their is a tribe in Bauchi state that the people still go naked. The NCCF people went for rural evangelism their.

The women have their lips pierced and pegged because they beleive that they "gossip" too much and the have something to pack saliva that accumulate in their mouth as a result of the pegged. In this same Nigeria.

Below is a quote from wikipedia about Bauchi state

Bauchi State has a total of 55 tribal groups in which Hausa, Fulani, Gerawa, Sayawa, Jarawa, Bolewa, Karekare, Kanuri, Fa'awa, Butawa, Warjawa, Zulawa, and Badawa are the main tribes. This means that they have backgrounds, occupational patterns, beliefs and many other things that form part of the existence of the people of the state.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauchi_State

.

tpia:

I think some of these tribal groups were originally just descendants of some polygamous man with hundreds of wives like that Niger fellow. He can also start his own tribe since he has 140 or so children.

How does he start his own language? It's not an easy task, especially when culture is ingrained.

This requires a serious research. I observed that only major tribes are mentioned so far. In fact, in Nigeria one kilometre is another language.

@Poster

Nigeria doe not have 250 ethnic groups, but she could claim 250 dialects spoken in Nigeria.

@Poster

Nigeria doe not have 250 ethnic groups, but she could claim 250 dialects spoken in Nigeria

Have you ever been to the middle belt before? the nine states around that area alone would have close to 200 ethnic groups
Adamawa, Taraba, Nasarawa, Plateau. Nasarawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Niger, Benue

Hahaha.those ethnic claims have no solid base.rivers state has several ethnic groups.kalabari-ijaw,okrika-ijaw,igbani-ijaw+ibo,andoni-ijaw,eleme-ogoni,ogoni-ogoni,ekpeye,obolo,oyigbo-igbo,etche-igbo,ikwerre-igbo,ndoni-igbo,ogba-igbo,egbema-igbo,ndoki-igbo,engeni.
We can count 16 of them here.lol

what do you call a group that has a separate and distinct language?

Defining distinct language from dialect is almost impossible if the distinct language is mutually intelligible with the other.example is isoko-urhobo and efik-ibibio-annang.a small lingual group might be considered by some as part of a bigger group.This becomes even more difficult if the group is heterogenous.an example is igbo-ikwerre.if ikwerre (whose igbo is more mutually intelligible to other igbos than ebonyi,enugu and north-eastern abia) is considered an ethnic group,it means that there are well over 200 ethnic groups in south-east alone.i however must state clearly here that language is not the only determinant.the main factor is personal belief.if i'm from ikwerre and consider myself igbo,thats my cup of tea.if i consider myself different from igbo,no one can force me period.

I dont know about Ikwere. Can Igbos understand your language?

In these middle belt I am talking about, these people all understand hausa but they also have their own dinstinct language that Hausas dont understand.

I cant understand Egun at all and I am Yoruba. That means eguns are a separate ethnic group

.

Kalabari, Okrika, Ibani are not tribes, they are Ijaws, THEY ARE PRETTY MUCH LIKE Ijebu of Yoruba or egba of yoruba, Kalabari Okrika and Bonny are collectively Ijaw Tribe that includes the Arogbo people of Ondo and the Izons of Delta,Edo and Bayelsa states.

who was that Bendelite  woman that sang the song

one kilometer is another language
half a kilometer is another language
wamise

you sravel to Onitsha them go speak Igbo
You sravel to  Warri,them go speak Urhobo
To Calabar them go speak Efik
e sravel,e sravel


she pronounced  travel, sravel
maybe they had no "t" in her language

**osisi:

who was that Bendelite woman that sang the song

one kilometer is another language
half a kilometer is another language
wamise

you sravel to Onitsha them go speak Igbo
You sravel to Warri,them go speak Urhobo
To Calabar them go speak Efik
e sravel,e sravel


she pronounced travel, sravel
maybe they had no "t" in her language

sounds like my grandma.

You have some problems with the Nigerian accent?

,

igbo, yuruba, haousa, folani, calaba, ocosha, edo , eshan, bini na what i know for now

I believe that you also have some Tuaregs in Nigeria


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvDsfLiWwpo&feature=related

ow11:

they are actually tribes with distinct languages albiet they only sometimes exist in one village. they are grouped coarsely into three
but that doesnt do justice ( a la kalabari, khana and Ikwerre).

the etche language sounds a lot like Igbo though

I do not believe that Nigeria has up to 250 languages as some people do claim. In Rivers State, what you call languages are actually dialects. Etche, Ikwerre, Ogba, Ndoni, Ekpeye are not languages but mere dialects of greater Igbo language. Those who describe this dialects as languages fail to do so on Egba,Ijebu , Offa, Ilorin, Owo, Epe etc. They simply describe them as Yoruba.

Dede1:

@Poster

Nigeria doe not have 250 ethnic groups, but she could claim 250 dialects spoken in Nigeria.

This 250 ethnic groups nonsense is more fraudulent than the population census. 250 Dialects, yes and perhaps a lot more than that. 250 ethnic groups? Yes, we also have winged elephants and pink unicorns in Yankari Game Reserve.

I can assure you, that we have more than 250 tribes in Nigeria.  I can give you the   Tribe Name and  State In Nigeria. The only problems you have is that you have not sat down and do proper research. In this computer era you can get any information you want any where in the world, how much more the one under our hand. 

I am including the source for you:  http://www.onlinenigeria.com/tribes/
     
1   Abayon   Cross River   
2   Abua (Odual)   Rivers   
3   Achipa (Achipawa)   Kebbi   
4   Adim   Cross River   
5   Adun   Cross River   
6   Affade   Yobe   
7   Afizere   Plateau   
8   Afo   Plateau   
9   Agbo   Cross River   
10   Akaju-Ndem (Akajuk)   Cross River   
11   Akweya-Yachi   Benue   
12   Alago (Arago)   Piateau   
13   Amo   Plateau   
14   Anaguta   Plateau   
15   Anang   Akwa lbom   
16   Andoni   Akwa lbom, Rivers   
17   Angas   Bauchi, Jigawa, Plateau   
18   Ankwei   Plateau   
19   Anyima   Cross River   
20   Attakar (ataka)   Kaduna   
21   Auyoka (Auyokawa)   Jigawa   
22   Awori   Lagos, Ogun   
23   Ayu   Kaduna   
24   Babur   Adamawa, Bomo, Taraba, Yobe   
25   Bachama   Adamawa   
26   Bachere   Cross River   
27   Bada   Plateau   
28   Bade   Yobe   
29   Bahumono   Cross River   
30   Bakulung   Taraba   
31   Bali   Taraba   
32   Bambora (Bambarawa)   Bauchi   
33   Bambuko   Taraba   
34   Banda (Bandawa)   Taraba   
35   Banka (Bankalawa)   Bauchi   
36   Banso (Panso)   Adamawa   
37   Bara (Barawa)   Bauchi   
38   Barke   Bauchi   
39   Baruba (Barba)   Niger   
40   Bashiri (Bashirawa)   Plateau   
41   Bassa   Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Plateau   
42   Batta   Adamawa   
43   Baushi   Niger   
44   Baya   Adamawa   
45   Bekwarra   Cross River   
46   Bele (Buli, Belewa)   Bauchi   
47   Betso (Bete)   Taraba   
48   Bette   Cross River   
49   Bilei   Adamawa   
50   Bille   Adamawa   
51   Bina (Binawa)   Kaduna   
52   Bini   Edo   
53   Birom   Plateau   
54   Bobua   Taraba   
55   Boki (Nki)   Cross River   
56   Bkkos   Plateau   
57   Boko (Bussawa, Bargawa)   Niger   
58   Bole (Bolewa)   Bauchi, Yobe   
59   Botlere   Adamawa   
60   Boma (Bomawa, Burmano)   Bauchi   
61   Bomboro   Bauchi   
62   Buduma   Borno, Niger   
63   Buji   Plateau   
64   Buli   Bauchi   
65   Bunu   Kogi   
66   Bura   Adamawa   
67   Burak   Bauchi   
68   Burma (Burmawa)   Plateau   
69   Buru   Yobe   
70   Buta (Butawa)   Bauchi   
71   Bwall   Plateau   
72   Bwatiye   Adamawa   
73   Bwazza   Adamawa   
74   Challa   Plateau   
75   Chama (Chamawa Fitilai)   Bauchi   
76   Chamba   Taraba   
77   Chamo   Bauchi   
78   Chibok (Chibbak)   Yobe   
79   Chinine   Borno   
80   Chip   Plateau   
81   Chokobo   Plateau   
82   Chukkol   Taraba   
83   Daba   Adamawa   
84   Dadiya   Bauchi   
85   Daka   Adamawa   
86   Dakarkari   Niger, Kebbi   
87   Danda (Dandawa)   Kebbi   
88   Dangsa   Taraba   
89   Daza (Dere, Derewa)   Bauchi   
90   Degema   Rivers   
91   Deno (Denawa)   Bauchi   
92   Dghwede   Bomo   
93   Diba   Taraba   
94   Doemak (Dumuk)   Plateau   
95   Ouguri   Bauchi   
96   Duka (Dukawa)   Kebbi   
97   Duma (Dumawa)   Bauchi   
98   Ebana (Ebani)   Rivers   
99   Ebirra (lgbirra)   Edo, Kogi, Ondo   
100   Ebu   Edo, Kogi   
101   Efik   Cross River   
102   Egbema   Rivers   
103   Egede (lgedde)   Benue   
104   Eggon   Plateau   
105   Egun (Gu)   Lagos,Ogun   
106   Ejagham   Cross River   
107   Ekajuk   Cross River   
108   Eket   Akwa Ibom   
109   Ekoi   Cross River   
110   Engenni (Ngene)   Rivers   
111   Epie   Rivers   
112   Esan (Ishan)   Edo   
113   Etche   Rivers   
114   Etolu (Etilo)   Benue   
115   Etsako   Edo   
116   Etung   Cross River   
117   Etuno   Edo   
118   Palli   Adamawa   
119   Pulani (Pulbe)   Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa , Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi , Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, etc.   
120   Fyam (Fyem)   Plateau   
121   Fyer(Fer)   Plateau   
122   Ga'anda   Adamawa   
123   Gade   Niger   
124   Galambi   Bauchi   
125   Gamergu-Mulgwa   Bomo   
126   Qanawuri   Plateau   
127   Gavako   Borno   
128   Gbedde   Kogi   
129   Gengle   Taraba   
130   Geji   Bauchi   
131   Gera (Gere, Gerawa)   Bauchi   
132   Geruma (Gerumawa)   Plateau   
133   Geruma (Gerumawa)   Bauchi   
134   Gingwak   Bauchi   
135   Gira   Adamawa   
136   Gizigz   Adamawa   
137   Goernai   Plateau   
138   Gokana (Kana)   Rivers   
139   Gombi   Adamawa   
140   Gornun (Gmun)   Taraba   
141   Gonia   Taraba   
142   Gubi (Gubawa)   Bauchi   
143   Gude   Adamawa   
144   Gudu   Adamawa   
145   Gure   Kaduna   
146   Gurmana   Niger   
147   Gururntum   Bauchi   
148   Gusu   Plateau   
149   Gwa (Gurawa)   Adamawa   
150   Gwamba   Adamawa   
151   Gwandara   Kaduna, Niger, Plateau   
152   Gwari (Gbari)   Kaduna, Niger, Plateau   
153   Gwom   Taraba   
154   Gwoza (Waha)   Bomo   
155   Gyem   Bauchi   
156   Hausa   Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna,Kano, Kastina, Kebbi, Niger,Taraba, Sokoto, etc   
157   Higi (Hig)   Borno, Adamawa   
158   Holma   Adamawa   
159   Hona   Adamawa   
160   Ibeno   Akwa lbom   
161   Ibibio   Akwa lbom   
162   Ichen   Adamawa   
163   Idoma   Benue, Taraba   
164   Igalla   Kogi   
165   lgbo   Abia, Anambra, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi,Enugu, Imo, Rivers   
166   ljumu   Kogi   
167   Ikorn   Cross River   
168   Irigwe   Plateau   
169   Isoko   Delta   
170   lsekiri (Itsekiri)   Delta   
171   lyala (lyalla)   Cross River   
172   lzondjo)   Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo, Rivers   
173   Jaba   Kaduna   
174   Jahuna (Jahunawa)   Taraba   
175   Jaku   Bauchi   
176   Jara (Jaar Jarawa Jarawa-Dutse)   Bauchi   
177   Jere (Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa)   Bauchi, Plateau   
178   Jero   Taraba   
179   Jibu   Adamawa   
180   Jidda-Abu   Plateau   
181   Jimbin (Jimbinawa)   Bauchi   
182   Jirai   Adamawa   
183   Jonjo (Jenjo)   Taraba   
184   Jukun   Bauchi, Benue,Taraba, Plateau   
185   Kaba(Kabawa)   Taraba   
186   Kadara   Taraba   
187   Kafanchan   Kaduna   
188   Kagoro   Kaduna   
189   Kaje (Kache)   Kaduna   
190   Kajuru (Kajurawa)   Kaduna   
191   Kaka   Adamawa   
192   Kamaku (Karnukawa)   Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger   
193   Kambari   Kebbi, Niger   
194   Kambu   Adamawa   
195   Kamo   Bauchi   
196   Kanakuru (Dera)   Adamawa, Borno   
197   Kanembu   Bomo   
198   Kanikon   Kaduna   
199   Kantana   Plateau   
200   Kanufi   Kaduna, Adamawa, Bomo, Kano,Niger, Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe   
201   Karekare (Karaikarai)   Bauchi, Yobe   
202   Karimjo   Taraba   
203   Kariya   Bauchi   
204   Katab (Kataf)   Kaduna   
205   Kenern (Koenoem)   Plateau   
206   Kenton   Taraba   
207   Kiballo (Kiwollo)   Kaduna   
208   Kilba   Adamawa   
209   Kirfi (Kirfawa)   Bauchi   
210   Koma   Taraba   
211   Kona   Taraba   
212   Koro (Kwaro)   Kaduna, Niger   
213   Kubi (Kubawa)   Bauchi   
214   Kudachano (Kudawa)   Bauchi   
215   Kugama   Taraba   
216   Kulere (Kaler)   Plateau   
217   Kunini   Taraba   
218   Kurama   Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau   
219   Kurdul   Adamawa   
220   Kushi   Bauchi   
221   Kuteb   Taraba   
222   Kutin   Taraba   
223   Kwalla   Plateau   
224   Kwami (Kwom)   Bauchi   
225   Kwanchi   Taraba   
226   Kwanka (Kwankwa)   Bauchi, Plateau   
227   Kwaro   Plateau   
228   Kwato   Plateau   
229   Kyenga (Kengawa)   Sokoto   
230   Laaru (Larawa)   Niger   
231   Lakka   Adamawa   
232   Lala   Adamawa   
233   Lama   Taraba   
234   Lamja   Taraba   
235   Lau   Taraba   
236   Ubbo   Adamawa   
237   Limono   Bauchi, Plateau   
238   Lopa (Lupa, Lopawa)   Niger   
239   Longuda (Lunguda)   Adamawa, Bauchi   
240   Mabo   Plateau   
241   Mada   Kaduna, Plateau   
242   Mama   Plateau   
243   Mambilla   Adamawa   
244   Manchok   Kaduna   
245   Mandara (Wandala)   Bomo   
246   Manga (Mangawa)   Yobe   
247   Margi (Marghi)   Adamawa, Bomo   
248   Matakarn   Adamawa   
249   Mbembe   Cross River, Enugu   
250   Mbol   Adamawa   
251   Mbube   Cross River   
252   Mbula   Adamawa   
253   Mbum   Taraba   
254   Memyang (Meryan)   Plateau   
255   Miango   Plateau   
256   Miligili (Migili)   Plateau   
257   Miya (Miyawa)   Bauchi   
258   Mobber   Bomo   
259   Montol   Plateau   
260   Moruwa (Moro'a, Morwa)   Kaduna   
261   Muchaila   Adamawa   
262   Mumuye   Taraba   
263   Mundang   Adamawa   
264   Munga (Mupang)   Plateau   
265   Mushere   Plateau   
266   Mwahavul (Mwaghavul)   Plateau   
267   Ndoro   Taraba   
268   Ngamo   Bauchi, Yobe   
269   Ngizim   Yobe   
270   Ngweshe (Ndhang.Ngoshe-Ndhang)   Adamawa, Borno   
271   Ningi (Ningawa)   Bauchi   
272   Ninzam (Ninzo)   Kaduna, Plateau   
273   Njayi   Adamawa   
274   Nkim   Cross River   
275   Nkum   Cross River   
276   Nokere (Nakere)   Plateau   
277   Nunku   Kaduna, Plateau   
278   Nupe   Niger   
279   Nyandang   Taraba   
280   Ododop   Cross River   
281   Ogori   Kwara   
282   Okobo (Okkobor)   Akwa lbom   
283   Okpamheri   Edo   
284   Olulumo   Cross River   
285   Oron   Akwa lbom   
286   Owan   Edo   
287   Owe   Kwara   
288   Oworo   Kwara   
289   Pa'a (Pa'awa Afawa)   Bauchi   
290   Pai   Plateau   
291   Panyam   Taraba   
292   Pero   Bauchi   
293   Pire   Adamawa   
294   Pkanzom   Taraba   
295   Poll   Taraba   
296   Polchi Habe   Bauchi   
297   Pongo (Pongu)   Niger   
298   Potopo   Taraba   
299   Pyapun (Piapung)   Plateau   
300   Qua   Cross River   
301   Rebina (Rebinawa)   Bauchi   
302   Reshe   Kebbi, Niger   
303   Rindire (Rendre)   Plateau   
304   Rishuwa   Kaduna   
305   Ron   Piateau   
306   Rubu   Niger   
307   Rukuba   Plateau   
308   Rumada   Kaduna   
309   Rumaya   Kaduna   
310   Sakbe   Taraba   
311   Sanga   Bauchi   
312   Sate   Taraba   
313   Saya (Sayawa Za'ar)   Bauchi   
314   Segidi (Sigidawa)   Bauchi   
315   Shanga (Shangawa)   Sokoto   
316   Shangawa (Shangau)   Plateau   
317   Shan-Shan   Plateau   
318   Shira (Shirawa)   Kano   
319   Shomo   Taraba   
320   Shuwa   Adamawa, Borno   
321   Sikdi   Plateau   
322   Siri (Sirawa)   Bauchi   
323   Srubu (Surubu)   Kaduna   
324   Sukur   Adamawa   
325   Sura   Plateau   
326   Tangale   Bauchi   
327   Tarok   Plateau, Taraba   
328   Teme   Adamawa   
329   Tera (Terawa)   Bauchi, Bomo   
330   Teshena (Teshenawa)   Kano   
331   Tigon   Adamawa   
332   Tikar   Taraba   
333   Tiv   Benue, Plateau, Taraba   
334   Tula   Bauchi   
335   Tur   Adamawa   
336   Ufia   Benue   
337   Ukelle   Cross River   
338   Ukwani (Kwale)   Delta   
339   Uncinda   Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto   
340   Uneme (Ineme)   Edo   
341   Ura (Ula)   Niger   
342   Urhobo   Delta   
343   Utonkong   Benue   
344   Uyanga   Cross River   
345   Vemgo   Adamawa   
346   Verre   Adamawa   
347   Vommi   Taraba   
348   Wagga   Adamawa   
349   Waja   Bauchi   
350   Waka   Taraba   
351   Warja (Warja)   Jigawa   
352   Warji   Bauchi   
353   Wula   Adamawa   
354   Wurbo   Adamawa   
355   Wurkun   Taraba   
356   Yache   Cross River   
357   Yagba   Kwara   
358   Yakurr (Yako)   Cross River   
359   Yalla   Benue   
360   Yandang   Taraba   
361   Yergan (Yergum)   Plateau   
362   Yoruba   Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi   
363   Yott   Taraba   
364   Yumu   Niger   
365   Yungur   Adamawa   
366   Yuom   Plateau   
367   Zabara   Niger   
368   Zaranda   Bauchi   
369   Zarma (Zarmawa)   Kebbi   
370   Zayam (Zeam)   Bauchi   
371   Zul (Zulawa)   Bauchi

@Bigbranny. Please do not be confused between languages and dialects. Lots of what you pasted here are mere dialects of a language. For instance Egbema in Rivers state. What is the language of their kit and kins in Imo state?.
The Awori, and Yagba are dialects of the Yoruba language. Also, Ukwani, Etche and Engenni are dialects of Igbo language.
Why do people always regard mere dialects as languages?.

grafikdon:

This 250 ethnic groups nonsense is more fraudulent than the population census. 250 Dialects, yes and perhaps a lot more than that. 250 ethnic groups? Yes, we also have winged elephants and pink unicorns in Yankari Game Reserve.

Obafemi Awolowo only counted 56 tribes in Nigeria.

250 is wrong.

Take Rivers State where we have Ibani, Okrika, Nembe and Kalabari etc but all of em are Ijaw.

For political reasons, they choose to class us as different people. Some divide and rule schizno.

Same goes for Igbos.

Igbos and Ijaws alone contribute to more than 50 of the so-called "tribes".

Really, these are the only ethnic groups in Nigeria.

IBIME: you are right.
EZEAGU: That map is wrong. It did not include Igbo speaking areas of Rivers state.

I disagree especially in the middle belt and North east we have a lot of Languages there though they have a lingua franca as hausa.

Where is Cerwa, Jarawa, Karekare and Tangale in Bauchi state where I served

Andre Uweh:

That map is wrong. It did not include Igbo speaking areas of Rivers state.

Yeah, It's kinda rough shown by the fact Port Harcourt is left out despite the fact of it's towns bearing Ikwerre names. But this map is a bit more accurate apart from the fact that Igbo and other languages are broken down into dialects.

http://www.languageandpeace.com/images/huffman/Africa_Langs.gif

dayokanu:

I disagree especially in the middle belt and North east we have a lot of Languages there though they have a lingua franca as hausa.

Where is Cerwa, Jarawa, Karekare and Tangale in Bauchi state where I served

To be fair those are linguistic groups on the map, and it's probably an old map drawn by an outsider.

Maybe.

But u need to visit Nasarawa, Gombe, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, to see Languages. though they all speak Hausa

dayokanu:

Maybe.

But u need to visit Nasarawa, Gombe, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, to see Languages. though they all speak Hausa

Not all of them speak Hausa. I know a lot of Biroms and Angas people who do not speak Hausa.
But, what is not understandable is when some Igbo dialects are classified as languages for example, Ndoni, Ogba, Ekpeye and so on.

I dont know about Igbo tribes because I didnt live there for long but you really need to go to the middle belt and North east,

During my NYSC in Bauchi state NCCF organised a rural rugged program and in a village they met people who were still walking naked they lived in the hills.