History and tradition of Nigerian culture

History and tradition of Nigerian culture

Nigerian culture comprises of so many ethnic groups. The largest of them are Hausa and Fulani found in the north, Yoruba in the southwest,  Igbo in the southeast, Tiv in the north-central of Nigeria, Efik-Ibibio and Edo people who tend to be Christians are found in Yoruba and Igbo region (Afolayan, 2018). The other ethnic groups occupy the other part of the country especially the north and middle region of Nigeria.

Religion

The Igbo are mostly Christians having Omenani as their traditional religion being led by Eze Igwes, the monarch. Men and women have subordinate titles known as Nze and Ozo which are highly respected and well known by the community. The Fulani and Hausa are Muslims, Yoruba falls in-between Christians and Muslims. Moreover, all these religious practices are all important among the ethnic groups as they are blended with Christian beliefs known as syncretism.

Arts

Nigerian art comprises of stone carvings, potteries, wood carvings, cloth weaving, and glasswork. Igbo-Ukwu practice bronze works and is used to depict striking realistic statues, woodcarvers found majorly on the southern part of Nigeria create a spiritual representation of the earth, sea sky, water, fire, and thunder, household utensils, doors for homes and shrines. Ceramic making in the European countries enhanced the art of pottery in Nigeria with the main centers being Okigwe and Suleja. Yoruba people make large wooden painted masks as a sign of Christianity and also worn by the believers during various ceremonies such as funerals to soothe spirits.

Textiles are made by women in Yoruba land and by men in the north by the use of shrub. Large wooden painted masks were made by Yoruba people and worn during ceremonies such as funerals to soothe spirits. Baskets, fans, and small tables were made of woven grass while larger household furniture like chairs was made of cane weave.Glass bead making which was an inherited profession from other craftsmen was applied to charms as a symbol of good luck. Jewelry,decorative items, and figures placed on altars to please ancestors were made of carved ivory. Also,Nigerian art served both as a social and religious purpose but due to increasing modernization, its significance has declined.

Music

Nigerian music includes popular and folk songs that involve instruments like Gongon drums, kora, and kakaki. Traditional music was differentiated by the type of instrument used for example Igbo was played using Igba and Yoruba music characterized by drums and singing. Hausa music comprised of both Muslim religion songs and folk African rhythm. Traditional music in Nigeria was played during different growing seasons hence linked to agriculture.it was also performed during different ceremonies like weddings and funerals. Work songs were played to keep the rhythm of workers on the farms.

Literature

Nigerian literature comprised mainly of oral and written literature which was written by Nigerian people and addressed Nigerian issues. Written literature was written in various languages based on geography including English, Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo. Northern Nigerian written literature is divided into four based on periods. ( Sinai,2017) Introduction of arabica ideas and culture into Africa influenced Nigerian literature negatively leading to translation of Nigerian literature to Arabic. Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian author wrote the novel, Things fall apart which explained the splitting of Igbo clans upon arrival of Europeans.

Significance of historical events In 1500 A.D, the Muslim Hausa kingdom was established in Northern Nigeria leading to Igbo and Yoruba Muslim civilizations. ( Ajagbe, 2016)

A Portfolio of Nigerian culture inventor

Based on thirty-year-old women of middle socioeconomic class, their community roles were food processing, mat weaving, pottery, and cooking and were controlled by the older women. They also had the role of taking care of their families and children who were regarded as a basic unit of a political organization. The women were also given titles of power especially among the Edo and Yoruba where they presided over meetings and regarded as queen mothers.

The personal crisis faced by individuals on culture occurred in the 20^th century where colonial changes altered to gender relations. Female chiefs lost their role of collecting taxes and governing positions due to the collaboration of male chiefs and British colonial administration. ( Aleyomi, 2018)Women were also forced to produce subsistence crops while the men together with Europeans took the privilege of distributing rubber and palm oil after the economy was subjected to the production of crops of export. Land- tenure system was also lost and land commercialization adopted favoring those who gained money from the sale of cash crops.

Some of the historical events that occurred include the adoption of the united nations convention on the elimination of forms of discrimination against women and gender policies but the event did not succeed since inequality still exists due to cultural differences. This has led to a decline in human resource management.

References

Afolayan, A. (2018). Philosophy and National Development in Nigeria: Towards a Tradition of Nigerian Philosophy. Routledge.

Sinai, I., Anyanti, J., Khan, M., Daroda, R., & Oguntunde, O. (2017). Demand for women’s health services in northern Nigeria: a review of the literature. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 21(2), 96-108

Ajagbe, A. M., Olujobi, J. O., Uduimoh, A. A., Okoye, L. U., & Oke, A. O. (2016). Technology-Based Entrepreneurship Financing. Lessons for Nigeria. International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, 6(1), 150-163.

Aleyomi, M. B., & Bakar, M. Z. A. (2018). Political leadership and Nigeria’s image crisis. Geografia-Malaysian Journal of Society and Space, 14(4).