WITH YOUR LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASS, IDENTIFY THE CULTURE AREAS OF NIGERIA. AND DESIRABLE THE DISTINCT CHARACTERISTIC OF ANY TWO OF THEM?

WITH YOUR LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASS, IDENTIFY THE CULTURE AREAS OF NIGERIA. AND DESIRABLE THE DISTINCT CHARACTERISTIC OF ANY TWO OF THEM? In respond to the above question, famous for her huge population of more than 150 millions and with more 370 others groups, Nigeria has the highest population African continent. The country is made up of three major ethnic groups namely  The northern part of Nigeria Hausa – Fulani  The southeast of Nigeria Igbo’s  The southwest of Nigeria Yoruba  And they represent around 70 percent of the population. Another 10 percent of several other groups’ numbering more then 1 million members each, including the kanuri, Tiv, and lbibio more than 300 smaller ethnic groups account for the remaining 20 % of the population of the population  the Hausa / Fulanis :- the Hausa and Fulani people are located mostly in Northern part of Nigeria and cites like Kano, Kaduna, Zaria, Sokoto, Kastina, Jos etc with a population of over 30 million, the have the largest population in west Africa because of their inter marriages and constant interaction with different peoples.  Their cultural similarities however allowed for significant integration between the two groups which modern times are often demarcation groups and many Fulani in the region do not distinguish themselves from the Hausa  The Igbos: - Igbo land is the home of Igbo people and it covers must of southeast Nigeria. This area divided by the Niger River in to two unequal sections – the eastern region (which is the largest) and the Midwestern region.  The river however has not acted as a barrier to culture unity rather it has provided an easy means of communication in an area where many settlements claim different origins the Igbo people have historical heritage dated back to the Stone Age and they are industrious people with vibrant colorful cultural display. Also surrounded on all side by other tribes like the Bini,WArri, Ijaw , Ogoni, Igala, Tiv, Yako and Ibibio, Enugu city, owerri,Onitsh , Asaba, Abia . The Yoruba: - Yoruba people like mostly in southwest Nigeria they have developed a variety of different artistic forms including pottery, weaving, beadwork, metalwork and mask making. Most artwork is made to honor the Gods and ancestors and since there are more than 401 known gods to the Yoruba have been compared to the ancient  Greeks in the amount of gods and in the similarities between the structures of the gods  The Yoruba’s organized themselves into networks of related villages, towns and kingdoms, with most of them headed by an Oba (King) or Baale (A nobleman or mayor) major Yoruba cities and towns include Ile – Ife , Ibadan, Lagos, Ijebu ode, Abekuta, Akure , Ilorin, Ijebu – Igbo, Ogbomosho,Ilesa, Oyo , Owo , Kabba , Offa, Ilobu , Ede, etc  there are other Yoruba cities and towns such as ketu,Sabe, Dassa, and others in republic of Benin.  There are other towns cities with historical affiliation with the Yoruba people because they share one or more similarities together. Some of these cities and towns are Benin city , Warri , Auchi , Okone etc.  The six geo – political zones in Nigeria  South – west: - geo –political zone. The south – west geopolitical zone is made-up of Lagos , Ogun, Oyo , Ondo and ,ekiti states  South – east:- Geo – political Zone                                                                          Top cities/town in the zone are south – east - Aba, Enugu, Onisha, Owerri, Abakaliki, Eboyi, Imo,Abia   South – South: - geo – political zone  This includes Edo, delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross – River and akwan Ibom state . top  cities towns in the zone are Benin , Portharcourt , Calabar Warri, Uyo, Yenagoa, Asaba Cross – river  state .  North – East :- geo – political zone  The state that make up the north east geopolitical  Zones are:- Taraba, Adamawa , Borono < Yobe , Bauchic and Gombe state , they are six in number top cities / twon in the zone are Yola, Maiduguri, Bauchi Gombe potiskim, Damaturu, Jalingo, Borno,   North West: - Geo – political Zone  The north west geo – political zone is made up of 7 state which include Sokoto , Zanfara , Kebbi, Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa .  North Central: geopolitical zone  The state that make up the north central geopolitical zone are -6 and include Kwara , Kogi, plateau, Benue Nassarawa and Niger state . The federal capital territory is as well included here although is not fully taking as a state. The north central is as well referred to as the middle belt. Top cities / towns in the zone are Abuja, Ilorin, Makurdi, Mina, Jos, Lokoja,Lafia The distinct characteristics of the two culture area.  PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: The Igbo and other eastern groups are virtually indistinguishable except for one thing , the Ibibio – Efik are said to be slightly shorter than other easterners .I don’t know why this is so , but it might be due to the thick forest in the cross – river area. The Hausa people are generally indistinguishable from other northern Nigerians. Although, their males are said to be very dark in complexion while their females very (could it be the Hijab). And some Igbo people are very light in complexion while their female’s doesn’t wear Ijab  RELIGIOUS CHARACTERISTIC: Hausa people mostly practices the Islamic religion. The worship was brought down to them by traders from North Africa , Mali, Borno, and Guinea in the course of trading almost all  of them embraced this religion and since then they have been holding tenaciously to it . Followers of Islam are know as Moslims or Muslims and their practices are based on the teachings of the prophet Mohammed (SAW) as recorded in their Holy book, The Quran . They hold their worship sessions in the practices of praying five (5) times a daily. They believe in the existence of the almighty, supers God, whom they call Allah. The remaining minority practice traditional religion  While in southeast, i.e. Igbo people are usually Christian religion the worship was brought down prom European with colonial master or missionary in the advent of the British to Nigeria colony they came along with missionary and they preach Christianity religion to southeast people and they emulate their culture these are the distinction between northern Nigeria and southeast of Nigeria      CONCLUSION The culture of Nigeria is shaped by Nigeria’s multiple ethnic groups. The country has over 521 languages and over 250 dialects and ethnic groups. The four largest ethnic groups are the Hausa and Fulani who are predominate in the North, the Igbo who are predominate in the southeast and the Yoruba who are predominant in the south west. References   Ross, will ‘’Nigeria’s thriving art and music science ‘’ (Archive)’’ BBC. 20 November 2013   people & culture OurAfrica.org.retrieved 2016/02/16  interesting facts about Nigeria people and culture answers Africa retrieved 16/02/2016