All about the ancient tribes
Several ethnic groups make up Nigeria’s population, the bulk of whom being the Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba. Several tribes, totaling 371 in number, are included within these ethnic groupings. The following is a complete list of all 371 tribes in Nigeria.
In Nigeria, there are several different ethnic groups, the most of which are the Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba.
Nigeria’s largest ethnic groups are listed below.
Rank | Ethnic Group | Share of Nigerian Population |
---|---|---|
1 | Hausa | 25.1% |
2 | Yoruba | 21.0% |
3 | Igbo | 18.0% |
4 | Ijaw | 10.0% |
The Ijaw tribe is the oldest tribe in Nigeria and has been around for thousands of years. They are mostly comprised of indigenous peoples, as seen by their subgroup names of ‘Ijo’ and ‘Izon.’
The Hausas are often regarded as Nigeria’s most powerful tribe, owing to the fact that the majority of them hold prominent positions in the country’s government. In fact, since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, this group has generated 90 percent of the country’s presidents, making them the most prolific in the world.
A 100-mile stretch north of their current position at the junction of the Niger and Benue rivers is where the Igbo are thought to have emerged from their ancestral homeland.They share linguistic relations with their neighbors the Bini, Igala, Yoruba, and Idoma, with the divide between them happening between five and six thousand years ago.They are also related to the Bini, Igala, Yoruba, and Idoma.
Igboland
Igboland Àl’ịgbò | |
---|---|
The population of Igboland stated here is the total of only the 5 main states (namely, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. | |
Demographics | |
Language | Igbo English |
Religion | Syncretic Christianity (>90%) Odinani (5-10%) |
Lagos state has the largest number of tribes in Nigeria due to the fact that it is home to a diverse mix of over 371 distinct tribes from all across the country. Because of their large and diverse population (approximately 45 million people), they are a popular destination for tourists.
African ethnic groupings, the Igbo are one of the most numerous and populous. c. 31,466,800 dollars (2021 est.) The Niger-Congo language family includes the Igbo language, which is spoken in Nigeria. Several of its regional dialects are fairly mutually intelligible among members of the greater ‘Igboid’ cultural grouping.
Yoruba is unquestionably the most populous ethnic group in Africa, with an estimated total population of 35 million people. However, the bulk of members are from Nigeria, who live on the southern and western sections of the country as well as the southern part of Benin. They have a long and illustrious history and cultural heritage that may be traced back to the ancient Oyo Empire.
The Ibo, also known as the Igbo, are a people who live in southeastern Nigeria and who have a variety of intriguing customs and traditions. They are one of the largest and most prominent tribes in Nigeria, with a population of over 40 million people spread across the country.
Africa, with its approximately 3,000 tribes and 2,000 languages and dialects, is a continent that piques the interest of visitors from all over the world. Other continents in the planet do not have the ecological variety that Africa does.
According to 2018 estimates, the most significant ethnic groups in Nigeria are the Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), and Fulani peoples. People from the Hausa ethnic group are estimated to account for 30 percent of the country’s population. In 2018, the ethnic groups in Nigeria were distributed as follows:
Characteristic | Share of population |
---|---|
Hausa | 30% |
Yoruba | 15.5% |
Igbo (Ibo) | 15.2% |
Fulani | 6% |
A long legacy of excellence and productivity has distinguished the Yoruba as one of Africa’s most accomplished and prolific artisans. They engaged in a variety of industries, including blacksmithing, weaving, leatherworking, glassmaking, ivory and wood carving, among others.