₦airaland Forum

Alj harem thank you for the detailed explaination

Do you have any links or facts about the Kanuri people?

It's interesting you said you lived in anambra because I read an article about a Kanuri community living in Rivers state, and they said they enjoyed it there.

P.S. don't worry about Abacha alot of us have yeye people from our indivdual ethnics that give us all a bad name

[quote author=Inked_Nerd link=topic=578235.msg7452060#msg7452060 date=1294043939]@OP: You kinda remind me of my dad. He was born in the North and partially raised in the South but our family is situated in the South. OP, where do you currently reside?[/quote]Greetings Inked_Nerd

I'm currently living in the U.K.
About the comparison with your father, it's kinda funny because quite a few Southern Nigerians I know particularly the Igbos were born and brought up in the North - and they loved the Hausa people. I believe we need more cultural exchange.

a continued conversation from another thread:-

alj harem:
thanks

my people are quiet humble, and they love peace in anything they do

although,, they sometime group us with fulanis which can be annoying sometimes but i just sometimes over look it

we dress a bit similar to to the fulani but we are a bit we are more into the cltural bit in it

i always thank God than i am a half kanuri/half igbo man
thank Allah

Why do people mistake Kanuris with Fulanis?
Do they look alike?
Sorry I've just never seen one apart from Abacha

WOW at bolded Is it your mother that is Igbo then? because it's usually Igbo women I see marry out
lol so that explains why you love Igbo music then, what a rare combination Igbo/Kanuri

Are you muslim ?
Have you visited both your parents ancestral land?
How did they recieve you?

P.S. sorry Alj harem for pestering you

I am an inquisitive individual who carries out personal research for my own personal gratification and very curious mind. I left Nigeria at an early age and thus recently developed an appetite to learn as much as I could about the country. However I've found there is a lot of insufficient data on the web so I'd rather garner facts and ideas via conversing with particular individuals who can best provide me with a wealth of information.

Scanning through this forum it seems to me that we don't posses too many Northern compatriots here, either that or they're too shy to post. I hope all Northerners feel very welcomed in this thread because part of my reason for signing up was to converse more with the Nigerians I do not see or meet up with everyday - I'll still love to hear from the Yorubas and Igbos though all sane and un-tribalistic Nigerians are welcomed here

Even though I am a Southerner, from the very south - Delta state, I was born in the North so I have an affiliation there as well I would like to hear more input from Northerners, and it will be good if they could simultaneously dispel the myths and rumours that constantly surround them also.

The purpose of this thread was for people to share links or articles or maybe through their own words information pertaining to their culture.

BTW I do not want this thread to be dominated by one ethnic group alone so please give other people a chance to talk and for the wayward ones abeg leave your 'tribalistic' palava for road if to say una wan really enter. Discuss like adults.

Personally I would like to learn more from the Kanuris, Fulanis, Shuwa arabs, Hausas - there is a lot lacking in terms of information concerning these folks plus I don't see them where I'm residing - and of course all the other ethnic minorites that make up the other 50% of the country. As I stated before I am a very inquisitive person so I will certainly be firing questions at the 250+ ethnic when I remember una name

This thread was not designed solely for moi so if una wan tok or question pipu for hia go ahead. If you like come fire me question I go ansa to the best of my abilities . And to compliment the thread about our non-Nigerian guests, all non-Nigerians are also welcomed to ask various questions if they so wish

You people can ask questions o, don't wait for me I no be teacher ask warreva una like; whether pertaining to culture, ethnicity, state,  Northern Nigeria Southern Nigeria, music, traditional attire etc

P.S. sorry peeps I can't reveal too much of myself I might appear on wiki tomorrow so I will be keeping certain things about me censored

alj harem:
thanks

my people are quiet humble, and they love peace in anything they do

although,, they sometime group us with fulanis which can be annoying sometimes but i just sometimes over look it

we dress a bit similar to to the fulani but we are a bit we are more into the cltural bit in it

i always thank God than i am a half kanuri/half igbo man
thank Allah

EDIT: I'll ask you a few questions on the 'catalogue of diversity' thread which I started in order for curious Nigerian to converse with eacother and I didn't wanna derail this thread anymore

tausi:
Hmmm where do I start. I know there are other kenyans floating around in this forum, so please add to anything I say or correct me if I am wrong.

The largest tribe in kenya is the Kikuyus(Bantus who are thought to have originally migrated from central/west africa). I am a mixture of tribes. My dad is half luo(tribe from western kenya near lake Victoria) and half Kamba(tribe from eastern kenya) My mum was half Taita( from the coastal regions of kenya) and half Kikuyu(tribe from central Kenya). According to the Kenyan Culture(like most other african ones) I should really say I am Luo because you are supposed to take up your dads tribe and since my granddad was a pure luo then I should be just Luo! But as I said before I am a modern Kenyan, tribe isn't too much of a big deal.

That's good that means you are a FULL blooded Kenyan and you can't take sides since you have an encompassing heritage I think all Nigerians should mix until we filter 250+ ethnic groups into a single ethnic - lol I'm joking, I kinda get the feeling I'm asking for a whole torrent of abuse now

tausi:
The Maasai are the most famous in Kenya as you have noted because they are still very traditional. They are normads. One of my uncles who worked for the government once told me that they are the most resilient people to change and modernisation! There was a project aimed to modernise the Maasai and to settle them that apparently failed completely. They were offered large sums of money to sell there cows and build houses to live in but they refused. Having loads of cows is like a sign of might/wealth. They can be a menace though because during dry seasons they drive there herds to greener pastures which brings them to the city sometimes. I was told a story of how once during a drought they came to Nairobi and destroyed  a multi million golf course!!! It is also known that you can get yourself killed if you touch a Maasai's cow. Apparently they are fearless too and that is why in nairobi until recently most watchmen were Maasai(things are changing because criminals now have upgraded themselves from stones to guns).

The Maasai as far as I know generally are the only tribe in Kenya that still dress in their traditional attire at all times. Most tribes have adopted the western dressing style ( only dressing traditionally during special events like weddings) and I remember a few months back when I was in nairobi, I was queing in a bank with a maasai on the same line. You can also tell a Maasai from their ears. They normally have a big hole that can fit a cup in it. This is how they dress and look like:
https://pure-destinations-safaris.com/typo3temp/pics/b992de413f.jpg
https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1292/700657195_46caa4f537.jpg

I would like to see some pics of how other Kenyans dress like I don't believe I'm too familiar with how Kenyans dress minus the Maasais. LOL yeah you really can fit a cup through their ears, when I was younger I used to see these geography channels about the standard of beauty in Africa alot as if we're supposed to feel and say eeeww yuck - well I kinda feel that's how it was narrated and documented sometimes unless I was just being paranoid. The funny thing now is that many and I mean many young guys I see today bore a gigantic hole in their ear (not as big as the Maasis though )

These nomads are fearless, the way you have described the Maasais if you take away their name this is how Nigerians talk of the Fulanis - whom are also nomads. There seems to be friction with the pastorials and the people in urban societies as well but hopefully we will all live peacefully together one day

tausi:
Their dancing style is also unique in that it requires the men to jump as high as they can, and trust me they do jump really high! Due to their simplistic diet of meat, blood and milk they are generally really thin and tall. I guess thats why they are that springy/bouncy. 
You are all very welcome to visit Kenya. Come see the Maasai and enjoy a Safari and afterwards relax on the fine Mombasa beaches.
Question for Nigerians: Do you have Safari parks where you can see the big five in their natural habitat? I know not all African countries have this.

The dance practices of the Maasai reminds me of a sub group of Fulanis the Wodaabes where beauty is central to their clan. The men hold beauty pagents - lucky girls  and they have to perform a special type of dance for hours and they are very tall and beautiful. They have a dairy diet also but they rarely eat meat unless they must or on special occasions as the cattles are their livelihood.

Oh are you residing in Kenya, if so what part?

You know I just researched the Big 5s now and I came up with: Lions, Leapords, Black Rhino, Elephant and Cape buffalo

I believe we have most if not all of those mentioned animals the thing with Nigeria or shall I say Nigerians is that we do not know how to maintain our resources. Nigeria actually has a blessed geography which encompasses the Deltas, tropics, jungles, Savannah, Sahel and Sahara Desert. Most people think Nigeria is all bush or either half sand half jungle lol.
There are many sites which could be used to open a safari but the most famous safari we have in Nigeria I believe is the Yankari game reserve. This is in Northern Nigeria which is blessed with many animals and large landscape but even Yankari is not maintained well.
Did you know that the biggest population of butterflies found in the world is in Eastern Nigeria, Calabar? It's such an unusal strange fact for such a troubled nation lol We also have some rare widelife that is only found in Nigeria or Cameroon like the drill monkey.

But I hope other Nigerians feel free to correct me I don't believe I'm the best expert in all things pertaining to Nigeria.

Alcofrybas:
Hello again.

Emofine, I would be very thankful if you please are so kind as to tell me how to quote from other postings.

Sure When you press the reply tab, you should be able to see a box where you insert your text. When you scroll down past the box you will see previous comments, and on the top right of each comment there's a little underlined tab reading 'insert quote'. You scroll down and click this tab depending on which particular comment you want to quote from - I hope that helped

Alcofrybas:
1) About the Yoruba in Venezuela and the Americas: They practice their religion, known as Santería. Unfortunately, there are some not too enlightened folks who believe that the Yoruba people from the Americas are strange, evil, and that they even practice harmful witchcraft. In a few words, people who have the horrible habit of speaking too much about things of which they have no idea. I loathe such prejudices.

On the other hand, the great salsero Cheo Feliciano dedicated a hommage song to the Latin Americans of Yoruba ancestry. They listen to Afro-Cuban or Bazilian Music, along with their own traditional music, which they frequently play at parties and ceremonies. They are very peaceful persons.

Well even some 'enlightened' Nigerians label their own heritage 'witchcraft' or juju - it's a even a greater shame when people who are descendants of such great history disown it in the name of witchcraft.

I have heard of  Santeria in Cuba and Brazil and even Puerto Rico but never Venezuela - there should be more cultural exchange between Nigerians and South American particularly the Yorubas, that's if there isn't already.

I never knew Afro-Cuban music have links to Yoruba despite the Bata drummings thats  . You should post some if you can.

Alcofrybas:
2) About the drums: I like the Djembe, I own one, and yes, it's a great sounding drum. But honestly, I would rather play my Bougarabou any time. It's a cone shaped drum from Senegal, not too different in sound from the Nigerian Ashiko. It has a rich, fat, deep bass sound. When I play it near a Window, the glass trembles. Seriously it's a very powerful instrument. I love to play the bass tone with the left hand, while striking an Agogo with a drumstick in my right hand. Super duper combiation!.
The bata drums surely come from Nigeria, because they are played almost exclusively by american Yoruba people; each one has a particular name: Okonkolo, Itotele and Iya.

Those names do not sound too Spanish or Portuguese to me 
The talking drum is just fantastic. I really love to get so many different tones from a single drum. And apparently many people do so. No wonder why it is played everywhere from Nigeria to Senegal. Certainly the Djembe is the most popular African drum outside Africa, but perhaps the talking drum is the most popular drum in West Africa. Unfortunately there are no instructional DVD's for it. I try to mimic the drummers who play it in Youtube, but I'm afraid I am terribly bad at it. It's a very difficult drum to play. But I like it anyway.
And finally there's the Udu drum , ah, those magnificent "liquid" sounds. Fortunately, there are instructional DVD's for it.

I'm not too versed on music  but have you played a drum that looks like a calabash that has been turned upside down. Kinda like a bowl with the bottom facing the musician. The calabash looking drum is placed inside water so it floats on top of the water. I believe the Fulanis play this well I'm not to sure but I've seen Habib Koite or is it Baaba Maal play this beautiful instrument.
By the way I have never heard of some of these drums until now lol.

Alcofrybas:
3) I am working on finding African Percussion Teachers. As I said before, there are plenty of good instructional DVD's around, but there's nothing like a master drummer. I agree with you: Africans, and surely the Yoruba people, are the best percussionists and dancers in the world. You are born with rhythm. As far as I know, drums are the toys that African children get, if they ever get toys at all. A similar relationship is forged between Andalusian Gypsies and guitars. That's why they are the best guitar players in the world. I'll surely search for all the material I can in this website.

@ bolded yeah you have a point there have you seen this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g753Sv9sUM&feature=related

Alcofrybas:
4) About blunt bloggers: they are everywhere, in any country. They are the 21st century plague!. It's too easy to insult people behind a nick through the Internet. Shameful.
And finally, it's been very pleasing chatting with you. Your comments are very welcome anytime.
Kind regards.

True the internet transforms a mouse into a lion lol.

ceasyc:
chinese during sex? now dats a turn off

LOL

Ni hao, wo hen hao?

@op I love the Jamaican accent and of course the classical romantic language is French. However to me Lingala is the sexiest language I've heard

alj harem1:
my list is not ethnocentric,,,i just listed it the way i like it

i love yoruba songs even though i do not really understand it

but i still love it followed by kanuri and i also love igbo songs

I wasn't alluding to that lol it's just that Kanuri sounds soooo different to Yoruba I wanted to know what it is that appealed to you. I also love Igbo songs

I'm quite curious about the Kanuris so do you have any link or info you are willing to share please - it's quite hard obtaining data of them.

Happy New Year

Thanks for the info Fulaman, for 2 days I have been looking for a video of this assembly lol do you have a link?

I have not been back in Nigeria and I was too young to remember everything in detail as I left when I was 1 but my mother and senior sisters always used to testify to how beautiful the Fulanis are. I believe they are one of the groups in Nigeria that physically stand out. I don't believe all of them have straight hair, straight nose, fair skin etc but when I ask an ordinary Nigerian how do the Fulanis look they describe them as such. Furthermore I do believe there are many different looks in West Africa so I'm afraid I don't agree when you say all West africans look alike

I have seen pics (I know this is not substantial data) of Senegalese/Malian Fula and they seem to have a different hairstyle and fashion from the Nigerian/Nigerienne Fulanis so I was also wondering if by looking at your Fulani brethrens from another country is it difficult or easy to differentiate i.e. maybe different tattoing etc.

P.S. How is Yola state - I have been curious about this region in Nigeria

Happy New Year Fulaman198, I hope you'll be frequent here as I have quite a few questions that I believe it's best if I converse with a Northerner

Alcofrybas:
You're right. The offspings of Italian-German marriages are quite a combination, especially when they're irritated  . Just imagine, the hot-headed Italian temperament combined with the German frankness. Oh whatever. I wouldn't have it any other way. Family ties, especially in Italy, are very strong. The´re extraordinary grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons. You can count on them. Word!.

LOL That's exactly what I was alluding to. I have a friend who is half Nigerian and Italian and wow you know when not to mess with her lol and the funny thing is she's normally quiet and shy until, you make her blow a fuse I also love it when she's screaming in Italian hehe

Alcofrybas:
I was born and raised in Venezuela, where there's also a strong Yoruba presence. They even have their own radio station there.

Now, you might wonder, why am I interested in Nigerian culture?.

First: The exquisite masks and ornaments carved in ivory. They're museum items, and in some books about art they're the only items showed under the section "African Art".

Wow I'm positively suprised, the Yorubas must be Nigeria's biggest export ethnicity lol. Venezuela? They have truly marked their stamp in this world particularly South America. I was only aware of Cuba and Brazil how interesting please tell us more tales of the diaspora there and influence if you can.

About 'African Art' lol I see that often as well when the majority of the book have pages containing benin bronzes or figures from ile ife. I was going to an exhibition here in London back in July, and it read 'West African Art'. Well to be fair that's proably the closest they've come to lol. I too adore their work, the realism is quite amazing and when I lean close to inspect the Benin bronzes sometimes I forget that these people were using cast to create these works. One of the most prestigious art works in the world are the Benin bronzes.

Alcofrybas:
Second: The percussion. I love to play (or rather struggle with  percussion, and believe me, Nigeria has produced the majority of African Percussion known and manufactured outside Africa. Here is a list of the most popular African Items made by major western manufacturers:

Non-Nigerian Percussion and the ethnic groups that invented them

1) Bougarabou (Jola).
2) Djembe (Mandinka).
3) Djun Djun (Mande tribes).
4) Ngoma (Swahili).
5) Rattles (Various African Countries).

Nigerian Percussion:

1) Agogo (also known as Gankogui in Ghana).
2) Ashiko.
3) Bata.
3) Shekere (also known as Atxase in Ghana).
4) Talking Drum.
5) Udu.

The great artist Peter Gabriel introduced me to this wonderful world.

I am sorry for any typos and grammatical errors (or horrors  ), but it should be quite clear by now that I'm not fluent in any African Language

I know that there is much more to know about Nigerian culture than its works of art and its percussion. That's why I joined this forum.

Well, this is fun. Have a wonderful 2011, emofine.

It's amazing the things you learn from Non-Nigerians Sometimes we Nigerians fail to appreciate what we have contributed or sometime we don't even know what we have offered, thanks for the info. I believe the Djembe drum from Senegal is truly one of best creation of drums, I think it is probably the most famous African drum perhaps. I have heard the bata drums but I've only heard it played by the Cubans.
The talking drum amazes me, I can't fathom how the Yorubas created such an instrument that actually mimics the tones in their language - genius work lol.
If you meet a Yoruba hopefully they can teach you percussion - I personally believe these people are one of the best drummers in Africa - they are certainly the best in Nigeria - and they hardly get tired, they can drum from morning to night.

Peter Gabriel? hmmmm now I'm curious I must make sure I research this guy now.

Furthermore I hope you obtain all the info and materials you want and need here, it's been very infotaining conversing with you

P.S. It's a good thing your Italian-German so you have a thick skin because some people here are too blunt even I prefer to dodge the bullets

Yeah we have a Kongolese and Kenyan in our midst - I hope we can expect the arrival of an Angolan next

Lallafati I have always adored Lingala as it sounded so romantic now I know why - you guys have been embedding french all along.

I'm curious about the religious make up of Congo, I'm aware that it is largely christian but are there any large muslim communities?

I am also eager to hear about the Kikongo that influenced Brazil I had no idea about that, I was only aware of the Angolans and Yorubas.

Jambo Tausi - I hope that's correct if not then welcome

So kenya has too many tribes to talk about - welcome to the club lol

but please do tell us more about the largest ethnic in Kenya and if you are not amongst them then tell us of yours also. I'm also keen to learn more about the Massai, for the longest time now ever since I read a book from childhood I always used to think that they were the majority not the minority. I believe that they are one of the most famous ethnics from Africa so please do inform us more about them.

Welcome Alcofrybas - is that yor real name because it kind of sounds cool

Part German and Italian - what a combination lol. Where in South America where you raised?

P.S. I'm also clumsy with blogs.

I wish you guys a productive year

I beg your pardon drrionelli I didn't think any non-pidgin/krio speakers will care for what I was saying

In regular english:

MZJamoGal so you understand what we were saying before?

I thought that the components of pidgin/krio was taken from European languages and embedded into our West African syntax, so it is not only english we are communicating in, we are conversing in different dialects. Even some people who are speaking pidgin are not aware of which particular language they are talking, whether spanish or portugese it is just pidgin to us.

lol I never knew Jamaicans decorated their words with 'O' I always thought it was a Nigerian style.

It's as if to say we are tracing our origins through our dialect, is it not?

Happy New Year!

I hoped that settled it for curious minds

GAR3TH:
https://nrff.bulletinstudio.com/files/2010/01/team.jpg
Nigerian Black Stallion in Dubai

So this is our rugby team hmmm they are better looking than our football team, I hope they play better as well

Thank you CarlC. I needed this, may God bless you and our nation.

Hey Fulaman198 good to see more Northerners here to dispel the myths.

I was wondering can a Senegalese Fulani differentiate from a Nigerian Fulani - even without them both speaking their dialect to expose the obvious differences.

Ehen MZJamoGal so you sabi wetin we dey tok before?

I tink say this pidgin/krio na small small ingredients we tiff from European languages and arrange am into our West African syntax, so no be only english we yarn for mouth, we spray different dialects before. Even pesin wey tok no sabi which language dey spray, whether spanish or portugese na simple pidgin to us.
lol I no know before Jamo pipu day embellish their words with 'O' I tink say that be Naija pipu style

E be lyk say we for trace our origins through our dialect nau abi?

Happy New Year!

errr   english is not our language to rescue

Besides like the great laurette Chinua Achebe said, 'that any language that has the cheek to leave its primordial shores and encroach on the linguistic territory of other people should learn to come to terms with the inevitable reality that it would be domesticated.'

so whut iz my consern in meking enlgeesh beta

Abeg who is doing this again?

Why why why in my country? dem no go rest?

Why won't they allow my country to prosper?

Do they not see the shame that they are not only giving Nigeria but also their religion?

Is it not blasphemy for a mere mortal to defend his/her creator?

I have so many questions to ask but I can't stop crying.

RIP to all those unfortunate souls that died in yet another senseless killing.

Nigerians are not the only ones to employ this pattern. I've heard other nationals double their wordings also.
I too used to privately wonder why Nigerians speak like this. I concluded that since largely we are impatient people I believe it's done for greater urgency and emphasis.

A few words I hear alot:

now now

lie lie

at all at all

abeg abeg

Also for extra highlighted emphasis and urgency they may add a vowel at the end of a word

for example:

quicki

abegi

looku

wella

It's just the pattern in which we speak like adding o at the end of sentences. I believe we enjoy embellishing our sentences.
Abegi no be lie lie I gist for una o

MP007:
wait I think some people in here are getting the wrong impression here. WE should pay for some of these movies no doubt, but what about movies like tolowanile, owo blow, shouldnt there be a "cut off year", i mean, you dont expect me to pay to watch ISAKABA and full moon , do you?

and wait, this is harsh but i just watched the tourist and tron free online, if man no pay those quality films , why u think say him go pay for nollywood

what abt my friend that li8ves in alaska, have mercy now, no african store for palin world, darn it!

Since I've grown wings where Nollywood is concerned bia biko my eyes are ready to see quality films nah
Abeg which site do I go on to watch 'The Tourist'?
I hope say dem do free ones also, quality or not I no fi pay

LOL ahhh well thank goodness I've weened myself off Nollywood for 2 years now.
Ah ah but wetin man go do for free cheap comic relief - I know, how about we form our own acting for Nairaland

alj harem I think say u be Kanuri abi

or are you half Yoruba or you are just residing in Lagos?

Sorry for too many questions I'm just positively suprised by your list

MzDarkSkin:
WOW! That is SOOOOOO AMAZING! I NEVER KNEW THIS . This is soo exciting to see such similarities btn my island and Africa particularly Ghana!
We Jamaicans are a mix of West Africa and Central Africa but the main countries that contributed to our population are in the following order according to numbers: Nigeria, Ghana, Congo, Cameroon & Angola. We took the Nigerian language (remixed pidgin mostly of Igbo vocab.) with us, the Ghanaian "rebellious" spirit, and the Central African (Congo, Cameroon/Angola) dancing styles. We are truly a well blended people however of them all we have such a STRONG connection with Ghana (lol I can't explain it!), I have YET to discover why but it's amazing!

I remember my mother's reaction during the world cup when she saw the Nigerian, Ghanaian, Cameroonian teams and she was soo intrigued that she would pause the t.v. and point out to us the features she saw very common amongst Jamaicans on the players. She was so excited to do so and was smiling all the while LOL. Its a beautiful thing.

*update, I even know a few Kwames. One is American and three are Jamaican. Cool stuff.

LOL at what your mother did, I'm suprised the male relatives allowed that unless of course it was just you girls watching.

@ bolded please tell me more, I would like to see a list of the vocabs this greatly interests me.

Akua, Kudjoe and Kwabena are truly beautiful names.

P.S. it's nice to see friends and guests from other countries also frequent here. You are welcomed - yep that means you too Zim Drill lol.

Happy New Year guys!

Ahem so dis is how dey bruise my ancestors abi

If I recall correctly the Oba of Benin stated, 'These Benin bronze serves as chapters in our history book. They were not made to be exhibited'.

Oyinbo abegi wetin be dey own cause sef? dem call dey own theif theif 'collectors items' when countri man do im own dem go dey hala constitution after constitution.

Is this not sacrilege? dey own 419 pass 3 digits o

Hhmmmmmmmm me sef I no sabi which one be worse - upperclass snobs molesting my ancestors craft or hillbilly trailer trash dumping my ancestors work

abeg come spy yeye people wey 'own' our Benin bronze before:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TelNsZ9ocUU&feature=player_embedded



P.S. I'm angry and crying at these ugly smilies no be these yeye people o.