Ill use this independence to focus on the minority ethnicities. For instance the TIV with a population of around 7 million people are situated in the Nigerian mid belt, predominantly Benue. Known for culturally wearing black and white stripes. Most are found in Benue
You have the Kanuri. Situated mainly in northeastern nigeria (a place ravaged by boko haram) they are the descendants of the once great Kanem Bornu Empire. A population estimated at 15 million
You have Idoma who are also known for their cultural stripes of black and red. A people who have long traded and been neighbours and been at war with Igbo land. They can be found in Enugu state,Cross River,Benue and Plateau and number 4 million
Then you have the Urhobo, number 4.5-6 million people. Located in the atlantic forest belt that at one time was untouched by outside influence.(so was not touched by muslim influence or christian much later than others ) A large bulk reside in Delta and Bayelsa
Nupe. Numbering around 5 million this ethnicity has been heavily influenced by Yoruba,Hausa and many other ethnicities through trade and cultural exchanges
The Annang. With a population of 2.5 million it is said the Annang migrated from Ghana around 700-900 years ago. They have a history and reputation of fearlessness. They are located in present day Akwa Ibom.
Anyways more will come tmrw
Ok let me do 3 more. The Igala: The kingdom came into extistence after waging a war of independence from the benin empire in the 16th century. With a population of 5 million people, the Igala are located in the middle of Nigeria.
BINI or edo. (A Portuguese corruption of Ubini) The descendants of the once great Benin Empire, these ancient people have a population between 3-6 million people. They were the first west african kingdom to trade and open an embassy in lisbon with the portuguese.
The Ijaw, with a population of 15 million they are one of the largest minority groups in Nigeria. Located in the Niger Delta, these sea fairing and riverine people were one of the first to interact with europeans.
The Jukun, descendants of the once powerful multil ethnic kwararafa confederacy which collapsed in the 18th century, these fearless people have a rich culture with a population estimated at 1 million.
The Ibibio, numbering 15-20 million, are one the of the largest minority groups in Nigeria. They have deep rich history and are one of the oldest remaining inhabitants of Nigeria.
The Ejagham. The originators of NSIBIDI and quite possibly the oldest existing culture in Nigeria, this highly influential culture are said to be the progenitors of the original bantu who migrated from the Ejagham country several thousand years ago. Population 5 million
The Igede. A people who came to be after being exiled from the Benin Empire, this ethnicity can be found in Benue,Cross River but have speakers in Ogun state and Osun. A population estimated at 500,000- 800,000
Shuwa Arabs, Another fringe minority group found in the deepest parts of the northeast, these nomadic peoples have an est population of 1.5 million scattered across nigeria,chad etc
The Efik, a sister ethnicity to the Ibibio after breaking away from the large Ibibio cluster several hundred years ago.Often called “Calabar ppl”. A sea fairing people, they were one of the first to make contact with Europeans and efik chiefs were major players in the slave trade
The Isoko numbering 2 million+, this ethnicity have long bwen mistaken for urhobo. Although both are close and share similarities, including the narrative that each group came from each other.
The Itsekiri, with a population estimated at over a 1 million are said to be descendants of Benin Empire prince and his followers who left the empire and settled in the mangrove swamps of the present day Delta
the bekwarra for instance are found in cross river with a population of 105,000
The Mafa, another ethnic group that is found in northern Nigeria but are scattered as far as Sierra Leone and Mali. Underatted because these guys are god level tier farmers with ethno engineering procedures that highly productive and perfect in technique
And yeah there are Many more ethnicities scattered all over naij and i cannot cover them all. So many types of ppl make up nigeria with so many stories to tell, that do not get told.
Let me add one more. This is the UBANG the ethnic group where men and women speak different languages with a population of 100,00 they are Located in Cross River.
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