Ethnic Groups
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There are three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. The Hausa-Fulani makes up 29% of the population, the Yoruba is 21% of the population and the Igbo or Ibo makes up 18% of the Nigerian population. All together these groups make up 68% of the population. Besides these groups there is an estimated 250 other ethnic groups.
Languages
English is the official language of Nigeria and was introduced when the British first started colonizing there. The other languages spoken are mainly split into three groups. The Niger-Congo group includes languages like Fula, Yoruba, Igbo, Ekoi, and Waka. The Nilo-Saharan group of languages is mostly composed of Kanuri, Bagrimi, and Zerma. The last linguistic group contains a large variety of languages spoken in Nigeria and is called Afro-Asiatic. The main components of the Afro-Asiatic are Margi, Hausa, and Bade.
Religion
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Most of the Nigerian population is Muslim or Christian. Still, about 10% continue to practice ancient African religions today. Religious festivals are common in Nigeria, but they are all very different depending on the religion of that area where the festival is being held.
Food
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In a typical Nigerian home you would eat three meals a day with many light snacks in between. Foods like African yams are common ingredients in recipes. Popular meals include Jollof Rice, Nigerian Stew, Isu, Iyan and Chinchin. Special religions in Nigeria have special diets, for example Muslims do not eat pork and would rather have beans and brown rice.
Arts
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The arts of Nigeria go back hundreds of years. Sculptures of Nigeria date back to 500 B.C. and are usually found with elements of bronze in them. Masks are also forms of art in Nigeria. Masks come from ethnic groups, specifically the Yoruba, who believe that it pleases their gods. Works of pottery from Nigeria are much older the sculptures, and vases are often passed down through families as heirlooms. The Yoruba people contribute greatly to Nigerian theater, having combined miming and opera for brilliant works of fantastical and spiritual stories.
Customs
Most countries, like the U.S., would consider Nigeria a very old fashioned place. In Nigeria it is almost unheard of that a woman inherits anything. Most of the time houses, money, and businesses are left to the men. Women in Nigeria do not have many rights and are expected to take care of domestic chores and have children. The families of Nigeria are also often larger than the average American family. This is because many men take multiple wives in their lifetime. At weddings a special Yoruba ceremony takes place. A man has to identify his new bride out of three women covered completely in white. Other strange customs include not being able to do anything with your left hand because it is "dirty".
Attractions
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Millennium Park- A park that shows off the natural beauty of Abuja, Nigeria's capital.
Kajuru Castle- A castle designed to look old fashioned, although it was built in 1978.
Chad Basin National Park- A popular spot for European royals, complete with giraffes and ostriches.
Awhum Waterfall- Located in breathtaking Enugu, this waterfall is rumored to be magical.
Kajuru Castle- A castle designed to look old fashioned, although it was built in 1978.
Chad Basin National Park- A popular spot for European royals, complete with giraffes and ostriches.
Awhum Waterfall- Located in breathtaking Enugu, this waterfall is rumored to be magical.
Sports and Pastimes
Soccer is the most popular sport in Nigeria as of today. Other favorite sports in this nation are boxing, polo, basketball, and more. Art is a pastime in Nigeria that is common to see. Whether basket weaving or body paint you can do it in Nigeria. Other fun ways to keep busy is to listen and dance to juju music. Juju music is a modern type of song that is found especially in Abuja.
National Holidays
- New Year's Day -January 1st
- Id el Maulud ( Muslim holiday dedicated to prophet Muhammed ) -January 2nd
- Presidential Election Day -March 28th
- Good Friday -April 3rd (2015)
- Easter Monday -April 6th (2015)
- Worker's Day -May 1st
- Democracy Day -May 29th
- Eid el Fitr ( Muslim period of fasting ) -July 18th (2015)
- Id el Kabir -September 24th (2015)
- National Day -October 1st
- Christmas Day -December 25th
- Boxing Day -December 26th