NIGERIA
ABOUT
The Federal Republic of
Location: West Africa, “The Giant of Africa” Capital: Abuja (FCT) Size: 923,768 km2 (almost 4x size of England) Population:174,507,539 Colonised: By British in Late 19th Century Independent: 1st October 1960
Nigerian culture is one of the most defining and unique a each are further divided to follow the traditions of the 25 Yoruba (21%), Hausa (21%) and Igbo (18%), accounting
TRADITIONS
- Mainly involved in the financial, press and educational sectors of the country. - Yoruba people are known best for their advanced drumming tradition using the ‘Dundun’ and hourglass tension drums. - Most Yoruba people are religious however they also believe in many deities such as Sango, Ogun, Ifa and other gods. These are believed to be intermediaries between God (Olodumare) and man.
FOOD
- Known for its richness and variety. - Deeply flavoured sauces and soups often made very hot with chili peppers. - Nigerian feasts are colourful and lavish, while aromatic market and roadside snacks cooked on barbecues or fried in oil are plentiful and varied.
- Proverbs and adages form an important part of everyday language, and are used extensively in all forms of communication. The Yoruba people take their culture seriously; greetings form an important part of daily life. While greetings are exchanged, it is important for the people to smile; and when asked about the wellbeing of someone, time is given to respond as this is considered to be polite.Yorubas greet their elders with a lot of respect, the boys prostrate to greet their elders, while their female counterparts greet by kneeling on one or two knees depending on the tribe
CLOTHING
- Yoruba dressing is usually made up of brightly coloured dresses with hats and shoes matching in colour. - The females dress up mainly with a head tie known as “Gele”, and a long wrapper with a short-armed top. - The males normally wear a long-dress in the form of a shirt almost touching the knees or even the ankles; a matching trouser often accompanies this and a hat.
NAMES
YORUBA CULTURE
aspect of the country. Of the 36 Nigerian states, 50 ethnic groups. The largest ethnic groups are the g for over 60% of the population.
- Yoruba people put considerable effort into naming a baby. Ile ni a n wo, ki a to so omo l'oruko ("one pays attention to the family before naming a child"). Types of Names 1 Oruko Amutorunwa (Preordained name)
2 Oruko Abiso (Name given at birth) 3 Oriki (Pet name)
LITERATURE
- Wole Soyinka - African Nobel Laureate in Literature - Chinua Achebe - Things Fall Apart
ENTERTAINMENT
INVENTIONS
- Seyi Oyesola - co-invented hospital in a box - Phillip Emeagwali - 1989 Gordon Bell prize
MISCELLANEOUS
- ‘Happiest Country’ 2011 - One of largest Crude Oil Producers
Yoruba people occupy the states Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, and some parts of Kwara and Edo states respectively. They have a general language called “Yoruba” (Yooba) which is the form that is taught in schools in the South-Western zone of Nigeria. There are other dialects of the language from different places such as Ondo, Ijebu, Isale-Eko, Oyo and Ekiti to mention a few. Generally speaking, Yoruba are the best tribe in Nigeria.
TASK TIME! Thank you for listening to the presentation! Now as a reward (and to show you were really listening), I would like two of you to have a short conversation with each other using the phrases provided on the second page of your booklet under ‘Language’. For the purpose of the conversation I would like one of you to adopt an older persona and one to adopt a younger one to ensure FULL Yoruba mannerisms and gestures are shown. Have fun!