₦airaland Forum

Top 10 Oldest Tribes in Nigeria and Their Origins

1. Ijaw (c. 5,000 BC)
Among Nigeria’s earliest inhabitants, the Ijaw people have lived in the Niger Delta region for over 7,000 years, engaging in fishing, trade, and cultural preservation.

2. Yoruba (c. 2000 BC)
The Yoruba trace their roots back to the ancient city of Ife, with legends of Oduduwa’s establishment of the kingdom over 4,000 years ago, contributing significantly to West African civilization.

3. Igbo (c. 2,500 BC)
Known for their early communities and trade systems, the Igbo people have thrived in southeastern Nigeria for thousands of years, creating strong cultural and political structures.

4. Hausa (c. 1000 AD)
The Hausa people established kingdoms like Daura and Kano, blending indigenous and Islamic influences. Their history dates back around 1,000 years.

5. Kanuri (c. 700 AD)
With origins in the Kanem-Bornu Empire, the Kanuri have a longstanding history of trade and scholarship, dating back over 1,300 years in present-day Borno.

6. Nupe (c. 900 AD)
The Nupe people of Niger State have a history dating back more than 1,100 years, influencing regional art and governance, especially along the Niger River.

7. Tiv (c. 2000 BC)
Residing in the Benue region, the Tiv people’s history spans thousands of years, marked by a strong oral tradition and social unity that preserves their heritage.

8. Edo (Bini) (c. 11th century AD)
The Edo people’s history is anchored in the Benin Kingdom, which became a center of art and governance in West Africa around the 11th century.

9. Ibibio (c. 3000 BC)
The Ibibio, among the earliest settlers in southeastern Nigeria, have a distinct culture dating back over 5,000 years, with a history of agricultural and artisanal traditions.

10. Gwari (Gbagyi) (c. 3000 BC)
The Gwari people have lived in the Niger and Kaduna regions for thousands of years, maintaining unique customs and cultural practices dating back 5,000 years.

Nailly:
Top 10 Oldest Tribes in Nigeria and Their Origins

1. Ijaw (c. 5,000 BC)
Among Nigeria’s earliest inhabitants, the Ijaw people have lived in the Niger Delta region for over 7,000 years, engaging in fishing, trade, and cultural preservation.

2. Yoruba (c. 2000 BC)
The Yoruba trace their roots back to the ancient city of Ife, with legends of Oduduwa’s establishment of the kingdom over 4,000 years ago, contributing significantly to West African civilization.

3. Igbo (c. 2,500 BC)
Known for their early communities and trade systems, the Igbo people have thrived in southeastern Nigeria for thousands of years, creating strong cultural and political structures.

4. Hausa (c. 1000 AD)
The Hausa people established kingdoms like Daura and Kano, blending indigenous and Islamic influences. Their history dates back around 1,000 years.

5. Kanuri (c. 700 AD)
With origins in the Kanem-Bornu Empire, the Kanuri have a longstanding history of trade and scholarship, dating back over 1,300 years in present-day Borno.

6. Nupe (c. 900 AD)
The Nupe people of Niger State have a history dating back more than 1,100 years, influencing regional art and governance, especially along the Niger River.

7. Tiv (c. 2000 BC)
Residing in the Benue region, the Tiv people’s history spans thousands of years, marked by a strong oral tradition and social unity that preserves their heritage.

8. Edo (Bini) (c. 11th century AD)
The Edo people’s history is anchored in the Benin Kingdom, which became a center of art and governance in West Africa around the 11th century.

9. Ibibio (c. 3000 BC)
The Ibibio, among the earliest settlers in southeastern Nigeria, have a distinct culture dating back over 5,000 years, with a history of agricultural and artisanal traditions.

10. Gwari (Gbagyi) (c. 3000 BC)
The Gwari people have lived in the Niger and Kaduna regions for thousands of years, maintaining unique customs and cultural practices dating back 5,000 years.

Ijaw men and women must have been infertile to be that old and have just over 2million people in terms of population.
Joke of the day.

pazienza:
Ijaw men and women must have been infertile to be that old and have just over 2million people in terms of population.
Joke of the day.

Ijaw is larger than Igbo in population


This is Ijaw Nation Map

pazienza:
Ijaw men and women must have been infertile to be that old and have just over 2million people in terms of population.
Joke of the day.

Ijaws are less than 2 million. They have only one state that is not even to 10 local governments.

Dalohad:
Ijaws are less than 2 million. They have only one state that is not even to 10 local governments.

Stop fooling around..
In Rivers State we have 11 LGAs that identify as Ijaws

Nailly:
Ijaw is larger than Igbo in population


This is Ijaw Nation Map

Why wasting your time and talking to these children.

Nailly:
Ijaw is larger than Igbo in population


This is Ijaw Nation Map

You are a landgrabber face the ocean. There are no Ijaws in Ondo.

Dalohad:
You are a landgrabber face the ocean. There are no Ijaws in Ondo.

Continue lying to yourself.
Just say there are no Ijaw in Nigeria.

OduduwaNow:
Continue lying to yourself.
Just say there are no Ijaw in Nigeria.

There are no Ijaws in Ondo..

According to your opinion

Nailly:
Top 10 Oldest Tribes in Nigeria and Their Origins

1. Ijaw (c. 5,000 BC)
Among Nigeria’s earliest inhabitants, the Ijaw people have lived in the Niger Delta region for over 7,000 years, engaging in fishing, trade, and cultural preservation.

2. Yoruba (c. 2000 BC)
The Yoruba trace their roots back to the ancient city of Ife, with legends of Oduduwa’s establishment of the kingdom over 4,000 years ago, contributing significantly to West African civilization.

3. Igbo (c. 2,500 BC)
Known for their early communities and trade systems, the Igbo people have thrived in southeastern Nigeria for thousands of years, creating strong cultural and political structures.

4. Hausa (c. 1000 AD)
The Hausa people established kingdoms like Daura and Kano, blending indigenous and Islamic influences. Their history dates back around 1,000 years.

5. Kanuri (c. 700 AD)
With origins in the Kanem-Bornu Empire, the Kanuri have a longstanding history of trade and scholarship, dating back over 1,300 years in present-day Borno.

6. Nupe (c. 900 AD)
The Nupe people of Niger State have a history dating back more than 1,100 years, influencing regional art and governance, especially along the Niger River.

7. Tiv (c. 2000 BC)
Residing in the Benue region, the Tiv people’s history spans thousands of years, marked by a strong oral tradition and social unity that preserves their heritage.

8. Edo (Bini) (c. 11th century AD)
The Edo people’s history is anchored in the Benin Kingdom, which became a center of art and governance in West Africa around the 11th century.

9. Ibibio (c. 3000 BC)
The Ibibio, among the earliest settlers in southeastern Nigeria, have a distinct culture dating back over 5,000 years, with a history of agricultural and artisanal traditions.

10. Gwari (Gbagyi) (c. 3000 BC)
The Gwari people have lived in the Niger and Kaduna regions for thousands of years, maintaining unique customs and cultural practices dating back 5,000 years.

Dalohad:
Ijaws are less than 2 million. They have only one state that is not even to 10 local governments.

This your ogogoro induced history is only meant to amuse your fellow drunks.
I can see you swamp dwellers are fighting hard to rewrite the history of this country just to for your personal gains but you only end up making a fool out of yourselves.

To start with, you can't write on the oldest tribes without putting the igalas on that first ten and besides the Igalas were on grond before most of the tribes you mention.

Your Ijaw tribe as inconsequential as it is can not be mentioned as one of the ancient tribes in Nigeria becos due to many factors I will not mention now but stop advertising your ignorance here in the name of writing an ogogoro induced history.

pazienza:
Ijaw men and women must have been infertile to be that old and have just over 2million people in terms of population.
Joke of the day.

As old as Israel, Iran is. Even Egypt that was the first known civilization and nation state. Is it infertility that makes china and India population more than 15 times higher? Yoruba folks generally lack critical reasoning. Very irrational and erratic and this their shallowness is why Nigeria cannot grow

If you have sense you will know that population may be diminished by history of wars, and may increase in favor of the more amorous tribe. Also migration pattern. The ijaws, urhobos, igalas, Ibibio may have had a part of their population who migrated away to Cameron or guinea. Like 1500 years back just the way Yoruba migrate to UK today. They may have lost their original language as well. No language on earth is newer than the other. Natural disasters, wars, economic migration happened to some and the population became tinier with time. Next time use your sense

Fulanis are less than 250 years old in Sokoto and by extension Nigeria.
Imagine foreigners from Futa jalo terrorizing the politics of Nigeria with ethics Nationalities dating back to 7000yrs.

What Criminality and Jihad ideology cannot do does not exist. Violence and bloodshed have brought them so far in mainstream politics of Nigeria today..

Nailly:
Ijaw is larger than Igbo in population


This is Ijaw Nation Map

General Datti please shut up.

Ijaw is a social club. Not fair to define them like a single ethnic group. Membership is still being accepted across the swamps of the Niger Deltas. Once you live by the seashore and has oil pipelines passing through your backyard, you are qualified to join.
They are still searching for a convenient language that can be used and understood by them. And according to them, you don't need to be ijaw to be called ijaw!
Wonderful, isn't it!?
At best, the present day ijaw grouping is more like "The Peoples Club of Nigeria" of the olden days..
A social club, a pressure group. Certainly not an ethnic group.

TooMuchStuff:
Fulanis are less than 250 years old in Sokoto and by extension Nigeria.
Imagine foreigners from Futa jalo terrorizing the politics of Nigeria with ethics Nationalities dating back to 7000yrs.

What Criminality and Jihad ideology cannot do does not exist. Violence and bloodshed have brought them so far in mainstream politics of Nigeria today..

Please shut up, absolute gross too much nonsense.

You are not ashamed to say that you are a Coward, It is true, The Fulani immigrants from the Futa Jallon highland have made u subservient in your motherland abi?

Nailly:
Top 10 Oldest Tribes in Nigeria and Their Origins

1. Ijaw (c. 5,000 BC)
Among Nigeria’s earliest inhabitants, the Ijaw people have lived in the Niger Delta region for over 7,000 years, engaging in fishing, trade, and cultural preservation.

2. Yoruba (c. 2000 BC)
The Yoruba trace their roots back to the ancient city of Ife, with legends of Oduduwa’s establishment of the kingdom over 4,000 years ago, contributing significantly to West African civilization.

3. Igbo (c. 2,500 BC)
Known for their early communities and trade systems, the Igbo people have thrived in southeastern Nigeria for thousands of years, creating strong cultural and political structures.

4. Hausa (c. 1000 AD)
The Hausa people established kingdoms like Daura and Kano, blending indigenous and Islamic influences. Their history dates back around 1,000 years.

5. Kanuri (c. 700 AD)
With origins in the Kanem-Bornu Empire, the Kanuri have a longstanding history of trade and scholarship, dating back over 1,300 years in present-day Borno.

6. Nupe (c. 900 AD)
The Nupe people of Niger State have a history dating back more than 1,100 years, influencing regional art and governance, especially along the Niger River.

7. Tiv (c. 2000 BC)
Residing in the Benue region, the Tiv people’s history spans thousands of years, marked by a strong oral tradition and social unity that preserves their heritage.

8. Edo (Bini) (c. 11th century AD)
The Edo people’s history is anchored in the Benin Kingdom, which became a center of art and governance in West Africa around the 11th century.

9. Ibibio (c. 3000 BC)
The Ibibio, among the earliest settlers in southeastern Nigeria, have a distinct culture dating back over 5,000 years, with a history of agricultural and artisanal traditions.

10. Gwari (Gbagyi) (c. 3000 BC)
The Gwari people have lived in the Niger and Kaduna regions for thousands of years, maintaining unique customs and cultural practices dating back 5,000 years.

Hausa and Benin

Fake list. Ibibio is a derivative of Efik

I actually saw a settlement in maiduguri that is more than 2000 years . I was told it is older than Jesus but I couldn't prove it . But carbon dating of igbo ukwu bronze and the Igbo iron smelting discards and the Igbo pyramid show igbos have bee here before Pharoah and moses.

I don't know why the world is not louding it enough but igbos actually invented iron smelting or at least had the oldest iron smelting cores around

pazienza:
Ijaw men and women must have been infertile to be that old and have just over 2million people in terms of population.
Joke of the day.

By your definition Isreal, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt etc should be the most populated countries in the world....

Do you know how old the Russ is?
And what is the population of Russia?

Some times I try to wonder how some of you use your brains but, it beats my imagination.

Nailly:
Ijaw is larger than Igbo in population


This is Ijaw Nation Map

And Ijaw is still not one of the major tribes in Nigeria?😂😂😂

Leave map, na by population. 😂😂😂

Interesting, lemme read up on the Ijaws, Ibibios and Gwaris

Anytime i want to laugh, i just view this guy topic

Bendeco02:
Anytime i want to laugh, i just view this guy topic

Werey

Mindlog:
And Ijaw is still not one of the major tribes in Nigeria?😂😂😂

Leave map, na by population. 😂😂😂

Ijaw is

Igbo iron smelting sites are older than all the tribes listed above.
How much more the igbo people themselves

Nailly:
Top 10 Oldest Tribes in Nigeria and Their Origins

1. Ijaw (c. 5,000 BC)
Among Nigeria’s earliest inhabitants, the Ijaw people have lived in the Niger Delta region for over 7,000 years, engaging in fishing, trade, and cultural preservation.

2. Yoruba (c. 2000 BC)
The Yoruba trace their roots back to the ancient city of Ife, with legends of Oduduwa’s establishment of the kingdom over 4,000 years ago, contributing significantly to West African civilization.

3. Igbo (c. 2,500 BC)
Known for their early communities and trade systems, the Igbo people have thrived in southeastern Nigeria for thousands of years, creating strong cultural and political structures.

4. Hausa (c. 1000 AD)
The Hausa people established kingdoms like Daura and Kano, blending indigenous and Islamic influences. Their history dates back around 1,000 years.

5. Kanuri (c. 700 AD)
With origins in the Kanem-Bornu Empire, the Kanuri have a longstanding history of trade and scholarship, dating back over 1,300 years in present-day Borno.

6. Nupe (c. 900 AD)
The Nupe people of Niger State have a history dating back more than 1,100 years, influencing regional art and governance, especially along the Niger River.

7. Tiv (c. 2000 BC)
Residing in the Benue region, the Tiv people’s history spans thousands of years, marked by a strong oral tradition and social unity that preserves their heritage.

8. Edo (Bini) (c. 11th century AD)
The Edo people’s history is anchored in the Benin Kingdom, which became a center of art and governance in West Africa around the 11th century.

9. Ibibio (c. 3000 BC)
The Ibibio, among the earliest settlers in southeastern Nigeria, have a distinct culture dating back over 5,000 years, with a history of agricultural and artisanal traditions.

10. Gwari (Gbagyi) (c. 3000 BC)
The Gwari people have lived in the Niger and Kaduna regions for thousands of years, maintaining unique customs and cultural practices dating back 5,000 years.

Ijaws are seafarers from Ghana....ho to church xmas service and stop yapping rubbish on the internet!

OduduwaNow:
Ijaw is

And when Nigerian students are asked to mention the 3 major tribes in Nigeria....ijaw disappears. 😂

Dalohad:
There are no Ijaws in Ondo..

chinedu there are ijaws in ondo state

Check Google

Odotech:
As old as Israel, Iran is. Even Egypt that was the first known civilization and nation state. Is it infertility that makes china and India population more than 15 times higher? Yoruba folks generally lack critical reasoning. Very irrational and erratic and this their shallowness is why Nigeria cannot grow

If you have sense you will know that population may be diminished by history of wars, and may increase in favor of the more amorous tribe. Also migration pattern. The ijaws, urhobos, igalas, Ibibio may have had a part of their population who migrated away to Cameron or guinea. Like 1500 years back just the way Yoruba migrate to UK today. They may have lost their original language as well. No language on earth is newer than the other. Natural disasters, wars, economic migration happened to some and the population became tinier with time. Next time use your sense

u are a dingbat that guy u replied is igbo

MadPolitician:
Ijaw is a social club. Not fair to define them like a single ethnic group. Membership is still being accepted across the swamps of the Niger Deltas. Once you live by the seashore and has oil pipelines passing through your backyard, you are qualified to join.
They are still searching for a convenient language that can be used and understood by them. And according to them, you don't need to be ijaw to be called ijaw!
Wonderful, isn't it!?
At best, the present day ijaw grouping is more like "The Peoples Club of Nigeria" of the olden days..
A social club, a pressure group. Certainly not an ethnic group.

This is true. I remember clearly calabari people getting erroneously classified as ijaws. Calabari has no relationship with ijaws sane with opobo and bonny (ubani)

Igbos remain the most ancient ethnicity in Nigeria.