Nigerian

Culture Areas

BY
OLUWAKEMI S. IWELUMOR,
PHD
 Definition of Culture Area
• A culture area, also known as a cultural region or cultural
zone, refers to a geographical area where people share similar
cultural traits, practices, beliefs, and customs.
• It denotes a geographical area occupied by ethnic/tribal
groups or peoples whose lifestyles exhibit a significant degree
of similarity with others, as well as a significant degree of
dissimilarity with the cultures of others.
• The demarcation of culture area is done by categorization of
cultures based on observable traits such as: physical
environment, religion, language, social organization,
economic activities, technology, art, and traditions.
• Ikime (1980) in Groundwork of Nigerian History asserted that
the people of Nigeria can be classified into two major groups,
depending on their geographical locations. The first group can
be classified as the forest people, and the second, grassland
people.
• Other authors in Nigeria have also classified them into four
areas, namely:
i. The Culture Area of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria
ii. The Culture Area of the Rain Forest Region of Nigeria
iii. The Culture Area of the Guinea Savanna Region of Nigeria
iv. The Culture Area of the Sudan Savanna Region of Nigeria
(See Oduwobi et al, 1997, Omorodion, 1997).
 THE CULTURE AREA OF THE NIGER
DELTA
REGION OF NIGERIA
• Geographically, the Niger Delta culture area begins from the
immediate South of Edo and Igbo lands to the Atlantic Ocean,
ranging from the South-East of Yorubaland to certain parts of
the Efik and the Ibibio areas.
• The Niger Delta people include the Ijaw, the Ndoki, the Odual,
the Isoko, the Urhobo, the Abual and the Itsekiri.
• The different ethnic groups in this area are generally
described as minorities.
• Although most of these ethnic groups belong to the Kwa
language family, only the Urhobo and the Isoko people speak
the same language.
• Fishing is the major occupation for those that live entirely within
the mangrove and freshwater areas. Those located in the
immediate hinterland combine fishing with the cultivation of root
crops.
• The recent stage of their culture history shows the Urhobo as
great traders while the communities of Itsekiri, Bonny and Opobo
have established themselves as the middlemen of the oil trade.
• The socio-political organization of this culture area is based on
village groups or clans apart from the Itsekiri.
• Many ethnic groups of the Niger Delta Region rely on their
dialects and are eager to develop them.
• History tells us that the people of the Niger Delta Region
have never been builders of empires and they have never
nurtured any great ambition to dominate others.
• The most common political trait of the area is the democratic
republican spirit, the basic political unit is the village. The
clan or village group is a confederation, and the whole of the
ethnic group is something merely of a cultural community.
• It is recorded that in the region, the Itsekiri represents the
only kingdom that does not have to grapple with the political
problems arising from internal fragmentation and multiple
dialects.
• All the ethnic groups in the Niger Delta Region believe in the
existence of a Supreme God. For instance, in Isoko and Urhobo, the
Supreme God is called Oghene while the Ijaw call him Tamara or
Egbesu. The Supreme God is called Oritsenebuwe or Oriste in
Itsekiri.
• The people also have and believe in many deities. The prominent
ones are gods and goddesses of the waters. Olokun also called
Umalokun or “mami water” is the most generally known goddess
in the area. “Mami water” is well known as the bride of the seas.
• Any genuine Niger Delta person considers waters, that is, the
rivers, the creeks, the lakes and especially the Atlantic Ocean
itself, as cities populated by not only fishes but also whole
communities of deities and water spirits.
• Witchcraft belief is very pronounced in the area, so there
are diverse ritual ways of dealing with ritual-related
issues. It is also recorded that it is the belief in witchcraft
and the question of how to solve it that led to the
establishment and the rise of “Igbe” religious groups
especially in Urhobo and Isoko areas.
• The Ijaw are best known as professional masseurs and
physiotherapists, but they know next to nothing about
magic, divination and herbalism.
• The Niger Delta people are professional in the domains of
canoe making, salt production, ceramics, etc.
• The Ijaw, the Itsekiri, the Urhobo and the Isoko are skilled in
the oil palm production technology.
• History also tells us that cloth weaving in the Aboh area
diffused to parts of Isoko and Urhobo areas.
• Also, music and dance constitute an immense contribution
of the Niger Delta region to the overall heritage of the
Nigeria nation. It is recorded that most of their dances and
music have formed the cultural background of some of the
young dancers and musicians today.
THE CULTURE AREA OF THE RAIN FOREST
REGION OF NIGERIA
• The cultures of the Rain Forest Region of Nigeria can be easily
categorized into four main groups, namely, the Yoruba, the
Western Igbo, the Eastern Igbo and the Edoid.
• The Yoruba group is in the Western part of the region stretching
across the border of Benin Republic with incursion into Togo as
well.
• The Eastern and Western Igbo subcultures occupy a vast area
along the River Niger.
• The Edoid culture group which includes Bini, Esan, Etsako, Igarra,
Owan, etc., is located in between the Yoruba and the Igbo.
• The eastern part of Igboland to the Cameroonian
border is occupied by the Yakur, Ekoi, Ibibio, Anang,
Bokyi, Ejaghan, Bekwara and others.
• The socio-political organization of the region can be
classified into two namely village democracies and
monarchical states.
• The Igbo people, some communities of the east, and
the Northern communities of the Edoid, fall under the
village democracies, while the Yoruba and the Bini
belong to the second category.
• They are known for their highly sophisticated artistic
traditions and skills.
• They are unbeatable in the science of metallurgy - iron
smelting and black smithing. Communities such as Ife,
Nkwere, Awka, Abiriba and Oyo have iron smelting as
their major business.
• Terra cotta figurines of very high artistic qualities have
been found in several parts in the Igbo, the Ibibio, the
Edo and the Yoruba lands.
• They also have an appreciable level of textile work in
the whole region, particularly in Yoruba and Esan lands.
• The religions of the forest people are like the Niger Delta
region.
• They believe God hardly gets involved directly in the affairs
of men. Hence, they are more concerned with their deities
who are closer to them than God Himself.
• The most powerful of these lesser deities are Orisanla in
Yorubaland, Alusi in Igbo and Ebo in Edoland.
• There are lesser deities in Yorubaland than in Igboland but all
of them are powerful. Sango, Ogun, Sopono, Olokun,
Obatala, Obalefun, Orunmila, and Oluorogbo are some few
powerful deities in Yorubaland, while Amadiora, Idemili,
Igwe, Ana or Ani are some powerful Igbo deities.
• The general philosophy behind the religious spirit of the
Rain Forest people is the search for good health, long life,
blessing in terms of children and wealth, and general
protection against misfortune and evil influences.
• Unlike in the Niger Delta region, witchcraft belief,
especially in most of Igboland, is not of paramount
importance.
THE CULTURE AREA OF THE GUINEA
SAVANNA REGION OF NIGERIA
• It is argued that about 70% of the peoples and cultures of
Nigeria are found in the Guinea Savanna region. The region
consists of four major states of Adamawa, Nasarawa, Plateau,
Taraba and the Middle Belt. It covers the Idoma, the Ebira,
the Igala and the whole of Zaria communities to the South.
• It shares border with Cameroon in the East and with the
Republic of Benin in the West.
• Apart from some large groups such as the Tiv, the Gwari and
the Nupe, groups within the Savanna region are generally
known for their small size.
• They are also known for their village or lineage-based democracy
except for prominent groups like the Ebira, Idoma, Tiv, and Birom who
have centralized institutions.
• Some ethnic groups in the region also pays allegiance to the Sultan
who has spiritual and political control of the greater part of the region.
• Majority of the people are farmers. Yam is the most cultivated which is
men’s business. The Nupe, the Koto and the Tiv constitute what is
called the “West African yam belt”. Other major crops include guinea
corn and millet.
• The groups around Niger-Benue confluence area combine farming with
professional fishing.
• Apart from Jos where the bulk of tin production is controlled by women,
other women of the Guinea Savanna region are not used to commerce.
• The people of the Guinea Savanna region believe in a
supreme God and other forces such as astral spirits.
• Among the Kurama, for instance, God is called Ashili or
Bakashili. Among the Tiv, he is known as Aondo while
the Rukuba call him Katakuru. Among the Gwari He is
called Shekoki, Shesha, Esse, Sheko or Soko. The Nupe
call him Soko. He is known as Agwatana among the
Busa. He is called Owo or Owoico among the Idoma.
The Kadara call him Onum. He is known as Shido or
Chido among the Jukun, and Hinegba or Ihinegba
among the Ebira, etc
• The Igala, the Jukun and the Tiv are known for their
strong belief in witchcraft, magic and sorcery. While
only men are believed to be witches among the Tiv
ethnic group, the witches of the Nupe and Gwari are
almost women.
• It is important to note that the Guinea Savanna region
is the most representative of religious balance in
Nigeria and arguably represents the best hope for
religious tolerance in Nigeria.
THE CULTURE AREA OF THE SUDAN
SAVANNA REGION OF NIGERIA
• The Kanuri and Hausa people constitute the major
cultural groups of Sudan Savanna.
• The Hausa Language is the lingua franca of the region.
It's recorded that 75% of Hausa speakers are non-
Hausa. The language is spoken in the whole of Sudan
Savanna area.
• The social and political organization of the Hausa people
is founded on strict status differentiation.
• Hausa territories are organized into city-states with
large capitals and several village communities. The
administration of a Hausa state is carried out at five
levels namely the Jama’a, the Kaukya, the Unguwoyi,
the Gidajoi or Gundumomi and the Birni. The Jama’a
represents the smallest operative political unit while
Birni constitutes the largest.
• Hausa economy consists of farming, industry and
commerce.
• The major crops include guinea corn, millet, maize and
beans.
• Regarding industry, the region is known for the making
of craft products such as leather works, blacksmithing,
sculpture, perfumes and textile wares.
• They are also famous in commerce. It is recorded that
up till date, the Hausa remain one of Africa’s foremost
merchants.
• They also champion the distribution of a wide range of
food items, household goods, as well as repairs of
broken metal ware over almost the whole of Nigeria.
• You should remember that division of labour in Hausaland is
gendered.
• Some would argue that Hausa women enjoy more economic
freedom than women in any other ethnic group because
they are free to run their private business and enjoy
absolute control over their income.
• History tells us that Hausa culture provides that a wife is
justified to claim a fee for labour rendered to a husband in
the process of economic production.