Nigerians are easy to identify among other Africans and for good reasons too. One in five Africans is a Nigerian, crowning Nigeria as the giant of Africa due to sheer numbers. Although not all Nigerians are as clueless and stick out in a crowd like the popular Nollywood character 'Osuofia in London', we do have a very distinct identity that is recognised around the world.

The way Nigerians dress, talk and relate with each other is unique among fellow Africans and it’s easy to spot a Nigerian from a mile away. But what are those interesting characteristics that truly identifies a Nigerian?

Accent

Clearly one of the most identifiable signs that you’re dealing with a Nigerian is in their speech. Nigerians have a unique way of pronouncing words. It is usualy quite staccato with 'th' pronounced as 't' to name a few idiosyncrasies.

Loud Speech

Nigerians are notorious for raising their voices when talking. This might embarrass a first time visitor or someone not so familiar with this way of speaking. Simply put, if a Nigerian is shouting at you it does not necessarily mean they are angry with you.

Open and Friendly

Nigerians are usually very popular with large networks of friends and contacts. This may be why we thrive on Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Most Nigerians will not hesitate to share their food, home and belongings with you and they are quick to help out if you are in need. There's no need to be alarmed by the Nigerians instant familiarity, it's just the way they work. It's not okay to just greet a Nigerian, you have to ask them about their family, work, health and so on. But if you're not comfortable taking the lead, they'll gladly do so first.

Extravagant Extroverts

"Too much" is not a concept Nigerians are familiar with when it comes to spending their wealth to look, feel and live good. The average Nigerians loves to be the center of attention and is only too keen to tell you about the latest this or that he has in his possession. The bigger the better.

Slangs

Apart from America no other country in the world has more slangs than Nigerians and that’s because slangs form a very important part of communication among Nigerians. This short hand form of speech, sometimes known as 'pidgeon' or 'broken' english forms a large part of how Nigerians relate with each other, regardless of class or tribe. For instance “How far” meaning "how are you?", “Jonzing” a shorthand for being tricked and “no lele” for no problem are just some popular phrases Nigerians use on a daily basis.

Nigerian Music

Nigerians love their music, parties and any form of entertainment that involves music, dancing and a large gathering of people. Tuface Idibia, PSquared, Davido, D'Banj and MI are just a few musicians you'll find on a Nigerian playlist.

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