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There are three major groups with over 10 million people:
Hausa-Fulani in the north, Yoruba in the southwest, and the Igbos in the
southeast. These three dominate the regions in which they are found. There are
basically two types of Nigerians: the Nilotic Africans (Arab-type) and the
Negroes. Each of the ethnic groups fall into these two groups.
Of the 250 linguistic groups that make up the 90 million people that live in
Nigeria, not less than 50% of them are Hausa-Fulani, Yorubas, or Igbos.
Hausa-Fulani
This group is found predominantly in Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Bauchi, and Kaduna
states. Some Fulanis are found in Gongola and Plateau states.
They are basically Muslims, and their culture has been influenced greatly by
their religion. However, they still observe a lot of their age long tradition
like the test of manhood among the nomadic Fulani, called Sharo, and the giving
away for marriage of young girls...some hardly teenagers.
Yorubas
This group occupies the states in the southwestern part of Nigeria, such as
Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Kwara, and art of Edo state. They are highly urbanized
people with a culture. They accept Ile-Ife as their ancestral house and have a
very strong bond of kinship.
Igbos
This group is found in Anambra, Imo, Abia, part of Delt, and part of Cross River
states. They are known for their hard work and resourcefulness. Some are
farmers, but today a significant number of them are now known to be traders.
Edos
This group is found in Benin (Edo) state. The Itsekiris, Isokos, and the Urhobos
are found in Delta state.
Ijos
This group (also known as the Zons) is found in the riverine areas of Ondo,
Delta, and Rivers states. They are basically fishers, and their homes are made
with stilts over water.
Ibibios
This group is found principally in mainland Akwa Ibom, while the Efik are found
in the Cross River state.
Kanuris
This group is concentrated in Borno state. They have a long history and
tradition as old as that of the Fulanis, only at the opposite end of the
country.
Jukuns
This group is basically made up of war-like people, and they are found in
Gongola and Benue states.
Tivs
This group is found along the valley while the Berom are natives in Jos and
Plateau states.
Nupes
This group is found in Niger state, while the Gwaris are found in Niger and
Kaduna states. The Igalas are found in Benue and Kwara states. There are many
other smaller groups who are identified with either their tribal marks or their
mode of dressing, but with modernization and inter-tribal marriage, the unity of
the country is indeed in diversity.
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