₦airaland Forum

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[color=#000000][/color] Mafa ethnic group which is also called the Mofa people are one of the smallest groups in Nigeria. They are a minority people group but rich in culture.

1. State Of Residence In The Country

State of residence of the Mafa people also known as Mofa people is found in the northeastern region of Nigeria. The northeastern part of Nigeria which is usually dominated by many Nigerian tribes including the Mofa (Mafa) tribe has a very nice geography. Currently, the Mafa people are found in Adamawa state as well as Borno state, Nigeria.

2. Location In Other Countries

The Mafa ethnic group is localized not only in Nigeria but in some countries like Cameroon and is also found scattered in countries like Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso as well as Sierra Leone. In these countries, they are mostly found in the northern region and they are found in mountain areas as well as hilly lands.

The centre of the Northern Mandara is mainly populated by the Mafa people.

3. History is One of the Interesting Facts About the People of Mafa Ethnic Group

The history of the Mafa people in Nigeria will not discuss their origin as a tribe but their origin as a tribe in Nigeria. This talks about their very first settlement after migrating all the way from other countries.

It is important to note that, the Mafa people are not an ordinary tribe of Nigeria, though they reside in Nigeria. Their history of origin traces down all the way to Cameroon, northern Cameroon to be precise. After spending a while in Cameroon, some of the people of the tribe started migrating to other countries like Mali, Chad, Sudan, and Burkina Faso where they are found in just small numbers.

Now, they are some of them reside in some settlements in northeastern Nigeria where they are currently thriving to make a huge success of themselves.

4. Language

Mafa is a Chadic family language. The language gains cognizance by the Mafa people in Nigeria as well as other places outside Nigeria. Also, there is a division of the Mafa language into three dialects. They are mafa-west, mafa-east as well as mafa-centre.

The language is popular in other countries (mostly Cameroon) but not so popular in Nigeria.

5. Mafa Population

In Cameroon alone, these people have a population estimate of 2000000 - 3000000. The global record of the people is at an estimate of 5000000.  However, the population of the Mafa people in Nigeria is about 1500000. In comparison to the Cameroon population, the number of Mafa people in Nigeria is small.

In the Nigeria population of the Mafa people, records show a certain village to have about 600000 indigenes.

6. Ethnicity is Among the Interesting Facts About the People of Mafa Ethnic Group

Affinity Bloc: Sub-Saharan People.

People Cluster: Chadic.

People Group: Mafa, Mofa.

Ethnic Code: NAB60b.

7. Mafa - Childbirth Tradition

The Mafa people of Nigeria are very peculiar in their culture. When it comes to childbirth, the head of the family which is the father has a very specific role to play to ensure that the baby will live a successful and long life.

The Mafa people believe that the placenta is a twin of the baby. As such, they believe that others can use it for evil intentions like ending the baby’s life or making his life meaningless. It is therefore the job of the father to collect the placenta and bury it in secret.

Also, note that the mother also has a specific role in childbirth. She must not lie down during childbirth. However, she is to sit while giving birth.

8. Mafa Burial Tradition

If a member of a village or clan dies, the people of the village/clan pay the family a visit. The people place the dead body on a wooden bed and they grieve. Also, everyone who comes to grieve is to eat in the room where the dead body lies.

9. Religion is Another Interesting Facts About the People of Mafa Ethnic Group

Christian religion, Islamic Religion and African traditional religion, are all practiced in the tribe.
10. Mafa Agriculture

They are farmers. The farmers have good techniques in soil management as well as the use of soil fertility management procedures. Their traditional agriculture method of farming is almost close to perfection when compared with most tribes in Nigeria. Their major farm produce includes red sorghum and millet.

11. Mafa Livestock Breeding

Raising cattle and farming animals is another occupation that they do well for their survival. It is usually favourable for them during the dry season. Chickens fetch them good money as well as meat and eggs for food. Also, goats as well as cattle fetch them money.

12. Food is One of the Interesting Facts About the People of Mafa Ethnic Group

Zoum is not a food but it is very popular in this tribe. Zoum is an acrid-tasting beer made from the fermentation of milk.

13. Local Government Area

Mafa people of Adamawa state in Nigeria reside in Madagali/Mubi local government area and Gwoza Local Government Area in Borno State. They live mostly in mountainous areas as well as the hilly land. Also, they prefer to live in huts. They build their huts in a round geometry style with low entrances. They believe building their houses in this form will help them chase out evil spirits.

- Jerry Nduvna

Maffa History, Culture and Lifestyle!

Introduction: Overall, the Maffas (Mafahi or Mafahay) are found in 4 countries mainly: Cameroon, Chad, Central Africa and Nigeria! Maffa form the largest tribes in the 4 countries. And also scattered in other countries like Mali, Sudan, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone. The Maffas are humble and very obedient people! They like living together as a group because they don’t want to disturb other people with their lifestyle! The Maffas like enjoyment! They like brewing their local beer (Zum dau), singing, dancing, storytelling, annual festivals, wrestling, etc! They are down to earth when it comes to Maffa Culture!
Hospitality: Mafa people are very simple and accommodating, they believed that a visitor/guest is a blessing to them.
Traditional Wedding: Mafa wedding is a stress-less ceremony, once the couples agreed to get married to each other, the father of the boy can now approach the girl’s parents to properly show interest in their daughter, if the girl’s parent accept their proposal then the parent of the boy can proceed to pay the girl’s bride price and some other traditional requirements which is compulsory such as Mugwudi and a big Ram. After paying the necessary dues the wife’s relatives escort her to her husband’s house at night! When they are about half a kilometer to the house, she has to walk squatting on her knees until she reaches the husband’ house. New wives may not talk to anyone, until her husband permits or beg her to talk to his relatives! The following day she will move from room to room to greet the husband’s family members! The most important aspect of wedding is eating a lot of meat! Rams will be slaughtered; half of the meat will be given to the bride, and the rest for the family!
Any time there is a new wife or a naming, visitor coming in or during any of the festivals; children will be celebrating because they will eat a lot of meat!
Naming: a new born gets his or her name (whether nick name or proper name) by the circumstances surrounding the family at the time of the birth of the baby! A child can be named, Nuoba - luck; Cived - Road (born of the Road); Maya- brave; Mamtsai- death (born after several deaths of other children. That means he will also die)! The same goes for a new wife. A new bride is also given a pet name by her husband or the family Kwanye - rule me, Pambi - beauty, etc. Every Maffa name has a negative or positive meaning.
Other names with meaning in Mafa tribe mostly used:
Wufe - Joy or Happiness, Cheaandev – Confident
Fiyndev – Patience, Doum Bee – Princess
Ngachgid – Success, Pishma – Blessing, Bay or Bee – King
Ndiya Gid – Victory, Nlebay – Praise, RickDee - Wonders
Maya – Wisdom, Waiva – Love, Pambi – Beauty

Ruling Class and governance: since the Maffas belong to different countries, we are subjected to different laws, rules and governance! Maffa fits well into any laws and democratic leadership in particular! The Maffas are flexible, and can fit anywhere.
Locally or traditionally every Maffa clan has its chief or king, who also obeys the rules of the country or any place where they live! The largest clan however is Zhelehi - the people! Zhelehi make up over two third of the Maffa clan population. Others are many but a tiny population like Vreke, Gaibihi, Zaruahi, Ngwatha and Gwadalahi.
Funeral: One’s funeral depends on the belief of the person or the family of the deceased. Funeral depends on the class of the person, or the decision of the family or the will of the deceased!
Morning, dancing and feeding will be for three or seven days! Then followed by the 40 days or annual ceremony called MBELE! MBELE is the final activity for discharging the spirit of the dead! That day there will be a lot of drinking, eating and dancing for the dead! Depending on the class or status of the family, the whole village will converge at the MBELE Venue (the deceased family house) and eat, drink and dance to the dead! Burial can be done in the ground or in a hewed stone for important personalities.
There are specialized experts called NGWATHA, who are given the right of burial rituals, such as carrying and disposal of dead bodies. The Ngwathas are looked down upon because of their good deeds of healing, delivering babies, protection and all their good support for humanity! They are also blacksmiths.
Dresses and outfits: The maffas wear any type of outfit they acquire or see other people use in their environment! The main clothing before civilization is that of animal skin as well as ropes or fiber netted in to fine threads, tie around the waist for women (Mozuk for girls, and vazak or motsud for married women). Refined leather is used to tie babies on the back as well as for men to cover their bodies! They also wear beads around the waist, ankles and red spots on face, necks, and wrists around the head as a head band! Most colors used are red, white and black, as well as a mixture of all the 3 colors!
Food Types: The mafa food is finger millet and the soups are Mokotub, Kileb, Mishi, Shasheb and Lak Baldav. Mokotub is the highly recommended soup among the Mafa soups which is mostly served to kings or elders in any Mafa ceremony and also to visitors. Mokotub is said to be the most delicious soup amongst all the Mafa soups that is why the Mafa people don’t joke with Mokotub.
Mokotub is a very simple soup to prepare when you have your groundnuts, dried fish, Enough Meats, a little spinach and pepper. With other necessary ingredients for soup.
The Maffas are good farmers and livestock breeders! They rear animal just for eating, not FOR SALE!!! A woman may not marry a man if he or his family does not have a herd of livestock in his backyard! Women on getting married start to raise their own chicken, goats or sheep! Many women do animal fattening for festivals such as Mari, Zavad, Ngwalala, etc. The Maffas are good eaters so they don’t play with their feeding!!!
Proverbs and Traditional Stories:
Writer: Esther Burtaye Usman Yavoua Dangwi Walabai
Edited: Jerry Nduvna

Only one wife na

The Mafa also called Mafahay, is an ethnic group localized in northern Cameroon, Northern Nigeria and also scattered in other countries like Mali, Chad, Sudan, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone.
The Mafa belong to the Chadic language grouping.

My name is Jerry Nduvna from Madagali Local Government Area Adamawa State.
Mafa (Maffa) can be found in 2 Northern States of Nigeria (Adamawa and Borno State)
In Adamawa State Mafa can be found in 4 Local Government Area of Adamawa which are Madagali, Mubi, Hong and Michika L.G.A
In Borno State Mafa can be found in 4 Local Government Area of Borno which are Bama, Konduga, Mongonu and Gwoza L.G.A


Nduvna Means
Nduvna, meaning the final answer to all circumstances.

Names with meaning in Mafa tribe mostly used:
Wufe - Joy or Happiness
Cheaandev - Confident
Fiyndev - Patience
Doum Bee - Princess
Ngachgid - Success
Pishma - Blessing
Bay or Bee - King
Ndiya Gid - Victory
Nlebay - Praise
Rick Dee - Wonders
Maya - Wisdom
Waiva - Love
Pambi - Beauty
Hashakid - Bush
Chivid - Way

What People call my tribe and where Mafa can be found in Nigeria
Mafa can be found in 2 States of Nigeria Adamawa State and Borno State.

Unique rites and cultures about MAFA ethnic group

Hospitality
Mafa people are very simple and accommodating, they believed that a visitor/guest is a blessing to them.

Mafa wedding is a less stress ceremony, once the couples agreed to get married to each other, the father of the boy can now approach the girl’s parents to properly show interest in their daughter, if the girl’s parent accept their proposal then the parent of the boy can proceed to pay the girl’s bride price and some other traditional requirements which is compulsory such as Mugwudi and a big Ram.
And In other ways the boy and girl can run away which is part of the tradition

Food
The mafa food is finger millet and the soups are Mokotub, Kileb, Mishi, Shasheb and Lak Baldav. Mokotub is the highly recommended soup among the Mafa soups which is mostly served to kings or elders in any Mafa ceremony and also to visitors. Mokotub is said to be the most delicious soup amongst all the Mafa soups that is why the Mafa people don’t joke with Mokotub.
Mokotub is a very simple soup to prepare when you have your groundnuts, dried fish, Enough Meats, a little spinach and pepper. With other necessary ingredients for soup….. Am not a woman so this is the little I know about Mokotub soup.

Funeral
when a person dies in Mafa Land it’s a tradition that youths will dress in our cultural attire to moan the deceased
And before a deceased is granted funeral rites his/her family members and friends must meet to plan the event. Execution of their plan starts immediately after the meeting. drinks will be bought and Pap though it’s base on the clans this is just the little I know about my own clan (Vreke) we have other clans that does their own in different way like the Zhelehi, Gaibihi, Zaruahi and Gwadalai

One thing I like about my tribe?
Noble Character
What I don’t like about my culture?
Alcohol is a like a tradition to them which I don’t like and they believed so much in farming to the extent some of them don’t think out of the box.
What I wish people will know about my culture
I wish the whole world can speak my language because it’s so simple, sweet and makes a whole lot of sense and I also wish the world will know about our annual event which is called Marai.
Mafa Proverb
AVUGNA VUGNA Meaning “Unity Is Strength”