There are certain culture and habits that are exclusive to
Nigerians. These things could only be experienced while
growing up in a Nigerian setting.


They are signs that show you have lived in a Nigerian home and have shared part of the culture and habits of this beautiful country.


Find some of these signs of living in a Nigerian home below:



1. Breakfast is basically ‘Ogi’ and ‘Akara’

A typical Nigerian breakfast of Ogi and Akara

[img]http://i.onthe.io/vllkyt1nubq3kig4qo.b9fd9de5.jpg[/img]

A typical Nigerian breakfast is pap and bean cake.

2. For some it is ‘Amala’ and ‘Ewedu’

[img]http://i.onthe.io/vllkyt3uhaoself62g.4f21fb85.jpg[/img]

Amala and Ewedu with Gbegiri soup
A delicacy made from yam flour is widely eaten in the most
parts of Nigeria. This meal could be eaten at any other time of
the day and still be enjoyed. This meal is prepared in most
Nigerian homes and is being eaten virtually everyday. Bean
soup could be added to the Ewedu at times.

3. ‘Suwe’ or ‘Tente’ is the predominant game for girls

[img]http://i.onthe.io/vllkyt27rju1o1nkig.b4a61e71.jpg[/img]

A lady playing the game Suwe
Growing up in a Nigerian home or environment is sure
interesting; games like these are enjoyed all over Nigeria. Girls
draw lines with boxes on the ground and hop on the drawn
boxes while jumping one in every round.

4. You can only go out after chores

[img]http://i.onthe.io/vllkyt4far24vn4eu.ea7ba78e.jpg[/img]

A child working in the farm
In Nigerian homes, parents are allowed to keep their wards in
the house till they are done with their chores. It is only after
then they are free to go play with their friends in the next
‘compound’. The no work no play applies here.

5. Christmas is synonymous to eating rice

[img]http://i.onthe.io/vllkyt7atvn00f9j5.847fc968.jpg[/img]

Jollof rice
The staple food for Christmas in Nigeria is basically rice. This
is the time most families get creative with the preparation of
this dish.

6. You get new clothes on special occasion

[img]http://i.onthe.io/vllkytufmg2k7njvo.6e562c0e.jpg[/img]

Mothers shopping for their wards
Except you are a grown up and have a stable source of
income, your parents only get to buy you clothes on special
occasion.

7. Your daily pocket money is spent on ‘sweet’ and popcorn
Baba dudu sweet

[img]http://i.onthe.io/vllkyt374c7rfi00ug.497408e9.jpg[/img]

There are many varieties of ‘sweet’ in Nigeria. Some of them
are ‘Baba dudu’, ‘Balewa’, ‘Ekana baba sala’ and many others.

8. Soups taste differently when there is no ‘Ajinomoto’ or
‘Royco’

[img]http://i.onthe.io/vllkyt2cb714c87il.691424f8.jpg[/img]

A pack of Royco cubes
These spices rocked Nigeria at some point, mothers delighted
in cooking meals by adding them. Although there are varieties
of spices now, these ones could still be found.

9. There are songs to know who farted in a group

[img]http://i.onthe.io/vllkyt7qcnk16ms4v.40993227.jpg[/img]

A group of children playing
Some songs could be sung to know who farted in a gathering.
The song is chorused while pointing at the suspected persons.
Whoever got pointed at when the song ends is the perpetrator.
Lol.

10. You stop being brilliant if you drink coconut water

[img]http://i.onthe.io/vllkyt4ol48icd94n.74363ba6.jpg[/img]

Coconut water
This and many other myths are widespread in Nigeria. The
water from coconut is presumed to make children become
dullards.

11. You visit other people in their homes and ask for the
‘potty’

[img]http://i.onthe.io/vllkyt7uga2r1uoma.c4497e0c.jpg[/img]

A child sitting on a potty
You are trained to use the ‘potty’ early in the morning in order
to clear your system.

12. You break a chinaware and start to cry before your mother
returns

[img]http://i.onthe.io/vllkyt4jkprg1qd0h.2cc9d9e9.jpg[/img]

A crying girl
The chinaware is basically used to serve food on special
occasions. Parents in Nigeria often threaten to mark the face
of whoever breaks the chinaware with the broken pieces.

13. ‘Readymades’ are worn to church
A ready-made dress

[img]http://i.onthe.io/vllkyt64khmbdvdj1.28bd15fc.jpg[/img]

These are special clothes Nigerians have nicknamed ‘Mama-
tie-me’. They are either worn to church or for birthdays.

14. You go climbing trees to pluck fruits

[img]http://i.onthe.io/vllkyt71dgknp19hc.5a627d8a.jpg[/img]

A boy climbing a tree
Boys delight in climbing trees in other people’s compounds.
Cashew, mango and guava are always plucked at boys’ leisure
time.

15. You get whipped with ‘koboko’ for failing in school
A ‘koboko’

[img]http://i.onthe.io/vllkyt37c4hjll0ig.66f3bac7.jpg[/img]

It is a terrible offence to bring home bad report sheets from
school. Parents keep whips of different types in the house to
reprimand their wards.