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Do not fill this in! {{Short description|People from the country of Nigeria}} {{About-distinguish2|the people of Nigeria|[[Demographics of Niger|Nigerien]], those from [[Niger]]}} {{For|a specific analysis of the population of Nigeria|Demographics of Nigeria}} {{Infobox ethnic group | group = Nigerians | image = [[File:Map of the Nigerian Diaspora in the World.svg|center|frameless|260x260px]] | image_caption = | region1 = {{flag|Nigeria}} | pop1 = 227,062,427 (2024 est.) | ref1 = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nigeria/|title=The World Factbook|access-date=4 January 2023}}</ref> | region2 = {{flag|Benin}} | pop2 = 6,000,000 | ref2 = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://sunnewsonline.com/new/features/exclusive-as-benin-republic-clocks-63-over-6m-nigerians-live-in-former-dahomey-200-in-jails-but-amb-obisakin-says-nigeria-is-a-power-here-theres-no-doubt-about-it/|title=EXCLUSIVE: As Benin Republic clocks 53: Over 6m Nigerians live in former Dahomey, 200 in jails but Amb Obisakin says 'Nigeria is a power here, there's no doubt about it'|work=sunnewsonline.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012012441/http://sunnewsonline.com/new/features/exclusive-as-benin-republic-clocks-63-over-6m-nigerians-live-in-former-dahomey-200-in-jails-but-amb-obisakin-says-nigeria-is-a-power-here-theres-no-doubt-about-it/|archive-date=2013-10-12}}</ref> | region3 = {{flag|Cameroon}} | pop3 = 4,000,000 | ref3 = <ref>Mark D. DeLancey, Rebecca Neh Mbuh. Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cameroon. Scarecrow Press, 2010. p. 283.</ref> | region4 = {{flag|United States}} | pop4 = 461,895 | ref4 = <ref>ACS, 2019</ref> | region5 = {{flag|United Kingdom}} | pop5 = 312,000 (2021) | ref5 = <ref name="ons.gov.uk">{{cite web |title=Population of the United Kingdom by country of birth and nationality, July 2020 to June 2021 |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/datasets/populationoftheunitedkingdombycountryofbirthandnationality/july2020tojune2021/populationbycountryofbirthandnationalityjul20tojun21.xls|website=ons.gov.uk|publisher=Office for National Statistics|access-date=5 February 2023|archive-date=3 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103215501/https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/datasets/populationoftheunitedkingdombycountryofbirthandnationality/july2020tojune2021/populationbycountryofbirthandnationalityjul20tojun21.xls|url-status=live}}.</ref> | region6 = {{flagcountry|Niger}} | pop6 = 155,000 | ref6 = <ref name="auto"/> | region7 = {{flag|Canada}} | pop7 = 111,465 | ref7 = <ref>{{cite web|title=Immigrant status and period of immigration by place of birth and citizenship: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts|url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810030201|website=Statistics Canada|date = 7 May 2021|publisher=Statistics Canada Statistique Canada|access-date=3 January 2023}}</ref> | region8 = {{flag|Italy}} | pop8 = 106,069 | ref8 = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.istat.it/it/files//2018/06/bilanciodemografico2018.pdf|title=BILANCIO DEMOGRAFICO NAZIONALE|publisher=Directorate for social statistics and population census Istat – National Institute of Statistics|page=10}}</ref> | region9 = {{flag|Germany}} | pop9 = 100,000 | ref9 = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://de.statista.com/statistik/kategorien/kategorie/8/themen/63/branche/demographie/|title=Demographie|first=Bild: istockphoto com /|last=mevans|website=Statista}}</ref> | region10 = {{flag|Brazil}} | pop10 = 4,000 | ref10 = <ref name="auto"/> | region12 = {{flag|Chad}} | pop12 = 88,000 | region13 = {{flag|Ghana}} | pop13 = 77,000 | ref13 = <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/ghana/090601/nigerian-ghana-fight-reputation | title=Nigerians fight bad reps in Ghana | date=30 May 2010 | access-date=6 January 2016 | author=Maguire, Ken}}</ref> | region14 = {{flag|Central African Republic}} | pop14 = 60,000 | region15 = {{flag|Chile}} | pop15 = 60,000<ref name="auto"/> | region16 = {{flag|Spain}} | pop16 = 60,000 | ref16 = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/data-hub/charts/immigrant-and-emigrant-populations-country-origin-and-destination|title=Immigrant and Emigrant Populations by Country of Origin and Destination|date=February 10, 2014|website=migrationpolicy.org}}</ref> | region17 = {{flag|Mexico}} | pop17 = 50,000<ref name="auto"/> | region18 = {{flagcountry|Ivory Coast}} | pop18 = 44,791 | ref18 = <ref>[https://countryeconomy.com/demography/migration/emigration/nigeria Nigeria - International emigrant stock]</ref> | region19 = {{flag|South Africa}} | pop19 = 36,500+ | ref19 = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.migration.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Nigerians-in-South-Africa-Facts-and-Figures.-Issue-Brief-8a.pdf |title=Nigerians in South Africa |publisher=www.migration.org.za |date=2017 |access-date=2020-04-28}}</ref> | region20 = {{flagcountry|Togo}} | pop20 = 32,000<ref name="auto"/> | region21 = {{flagcountry|Gabon}} | pop21 = 24,000<ref name="auto"/> | region22 = {{flag|Netherlands}} | pop22 = 20,000 | ref22 = <ref name="auto"/> | region23 = {{flag|Austria}} | pop23 = 19,286 | ref23 = <ref name="migrationinformation.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.statistik.at/web_de/statistiken/bevoelkerung/bevoelkerungsstruktur/bevoelkerung_nach_staatsangehoerigkeit_geburtsland/|title=Bevölkerung nach Staatsangehörigkeit und Geburtsland|publisher=Statistik Austria|access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref> | region25 = {{flag|Ireland}} | pop25 = 16,300 | ref25 = <ref name="ICI2008">{{harvnb|McFadyen|2008|p=55}}</ref> | region26 = {{flagcountry|Sweden}} | pop26 = 6,000 | ref26 = <ref name="auto"/> | region27 = {{flagcountry|Burkina Faso}} | pop27 = 5,000<ref name="auto"/> | region28 = {{flagcountry|Liberia}} | pop28 = 4,000<ref name="auto"/> | region29 = {{flagcountry|Finland}} | pop29 = 3,000 | ref29 = <ref name="auto"/> | region30 = {{flag|Australia}} | pop30 = 4,519 | ref30 = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/statistics/comm-summ/_pdf/nigeria.pdf|title=Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection|work=immi.gov.au|access-date=2013-10-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012061628/http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/statistics/comm-summ/_pdf/nigeria.pdf|archive-date=2013-10-12|url-status=dead}}</ref> | region31 = {{flag|Greece}} | pop31 = 3,000 | ref31 = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.athensnews.gr/athweb/nathens.print_unique?e=C&f=12905&m=A13&aa=1&eidos=A |title=AthensNews onLine SEARCH |access-date=2013-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212164639/http://www.athensnews.gr/athweb/nathens.print_unique?e=C&f=12905&m=A13&aa=1&eidos=A |archive-date=2009-02-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | region32 = {{flag|Japan}} | pop32 = 3,000 | ref32 = <ref name="auto"/> | region34 = {{flag|Norway}} | pop34 = 1,780 | ref34 = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/befolkning/statistikker/innvbef/aar/2013-04-25?fane=tabell&sort=nummer&tabell=109859|title=Innvandrere og norskfødte med innvandrerforeldre - Tabeller - SSB|access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref> | region35 = {{flag|Belgium}} | pop35 = 1,636 | ref35 = <ref name="migrationinformation.org"/> | region36 = {{flag|France}} | pop36 = 1,425 | ref36 = <ref name="migrationinformation.org"/> | region38 = {{flag|India}} | pop38 = 1,000 | ref38 = <ref name="auto"/> | langs = [[Nigerian English]], regional languages | rels = [[Islam]], [[Christianity]], [[Traditional African religions]] | region41 = {{flagcountry|Mali}} | pop41 = 4,000 | ref41 = <ref name="auto"/> | region42 = {{flagcountry|Mozambique}} | pop42 = 5,000 | ref42 = <ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/data-hub/charts/immigrant-and-emigrant-populations-country-origin-and-destination|title=Immigrant and Emigrant Populations by Country of Origin and Destination|date=February 10, 2014|website=migrationpolicy.org}}</ref> | region43 = {{flagcountry|Senegal}} | pop43 = 2,000 | ref43 = <ref name="auto"/> }} {{Culture of Nigeria}} '''Nigerians''' or the '''Nigerian people''' are citizens of [[Nigeria]] or people with ancestry from [[Nigeria]].<ref name="Gordon (2003), 233">{{cite book|series=Ethnic diversity within nations|year=2003|publisher=ABC-CLIO, Inc.|location=Santa Barbara, California, USA|isbn=1576076822|page=233|first=April A.|last=Gordon|title=Nigeria's diverse peoples: a reference sourcebook}}</ref> The name [[Nigeria]] was derived from the [[Niger River]] running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British journalist [[Flora Shaw, Lady Lugard|Flora Shaw]], who later married Baron [[Frederick Lugard, 1st Baron Lugard|Frederick Lugard]], a British colonial administrator.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria |url=https://foreignaffairs.gov.ng/nigeria/nigeria-history/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |language=en}}</ref> ''Nigeria'' is composed of various [[ethnic groups]] and [[Culture|cultures]] and the term Nigerian refers to a [[citizenship]]-based civic [[nationality]].<ref name="Gordon (2003), 233"/> Nigerians are derived from over 250 ethno-linguistic groups.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 4">Toyin Falola. ''Culture and Customs of Nigeria''. Westport, Connecticut, USA: Greenwood Press, 2001. p. 4.</ref> Though there are multiple ethnic groups in [[Nigeria]], economic factors result in significant mobility of Nigerians of multiple ethnic and religious backgrounds to reside in territories in Nigeria that are outside their ethnic or religious background, resulting in the mixing of the various ethnic and religious groups, especially in Nigeria's cities.<ref name="Toyin Fall 2001. pp. 8">Toyin Falola. ''Culture and Customs of Nigeria''. Westport, Connecticut, USA: Greenwood Press, 2001. p. 8.</ref> The [[English language in England|English language]] is the ''[[lingua franca]]'' of Nigerians.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 233">April A. Gordon. ''Nigeria's Diverse Peoples: A Reference Sourcebook''. Santa Barbara, California, USA: ABC-CLIO, 2003. p. 233.</ref> Nigeria is divided roughly in half between [[Muslims]], who live mostly in the [[north]], and [[Christians]], who live mostly in the south; [[Traditional African religions|indigenous religions]], such as those native to the [[Odinani|Igbo]] and [[Yoruba religion|Yoruba]] ethnicities, are in the minority.<ref name="USEN">{{cite web |title=Nigeria Fact Sheet |url=https://photos.state.gov/libraries/nigeria/487468/pdfs/Nigeria%20overview%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018101915/https://photos.state.gov/libraries/nigeria/487468/pdfs/Nigeria%20overview%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf |archive-date=18 October 2020 |access-date=23 September 2018 |publisher=United States Embassy in Nigeria}}</ref> == Ethnicity == {{See also|List of ethnic groups in Nigeria}} Nigerians come from multiple ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds as the founding of [[Nigeria]] was the outcome of a colonial creation by the [[British Empire]].<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 233"/> == History == {{Further|History of Nigeria}} There have been several major historical kingdoms and states in Nigeria that have influenced Nigerian society through their kings and their legal and taxation systems, and the use of religion to legitimize the power of the king and to unite the people.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 15-16">Toyin Falola. ''Culture and Customs of Nigeria''. Westport, Connecticut, USA: Greenwood Press, 2001. pp. 15-16.</ref> [[Northern Nigeria]] has been culturally influenced by Islam, including several major historic Islamic states in the region.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 15-16"/> The [[Songhai Empire]], [[Kanem-Bornu Empire]] and the [[Sokoto Caliphate]] were major historical Islamic states in northern Nigeria.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 15-16"/> Southern [[Nigeria]] historically held several powerful states, including the [[Benin Empire]] and [[Oyo Empire]], and [[Aro Confederacy]].<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 15-16"/> == Culture == [[Nigerian culture]] was profoundly affected by the [[Colonial Nigeria|British colonial rule]].<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 18">Toyin Falola. ''Culture and Customs of Nigeria''. Westport, Connecticut, USA: Greenwood Press, 2001. p. 18.</ref> Such as British colonial authority's denouncement and attacks upon [[polygamy]], trial by ordeal, and certain types of sacrifices.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 18"/> At the same time, British colonial authorities maintained and promoted traditional Nigerian culture that strengthened colonial administration.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 18"/> The [[British Empire|British]] spread [[Christianity]] throughout southern Nigeria and Christian missionaries assisted British authorities in establishing a [[Western world|Western]]-style education system in [[Nigeria]] that resulted in the teaching of [[English language]] in Nigeria and its subsequent adoption as Nigeria's main language.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 18"/> The British replaced unpaid household labor with [[wage labour]].<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 18"/> Prior to colonisation in the twentieth century, Nigeria's tribes usually [[Land tenure|possessed the land]] as a community, such that land could not be bought or sold.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 4" /> [[Colonization|Colonisation]] brought the notion of individuals owning land and the commercialisation of land began.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 4" /> <gallery heights="132" mode="packed"> File:Hausawomen.jpg|[[Hausa language|Hausa]] [[Fula people|Fulani]] Nigerian women, wearing traditional clothing File:Inside the Palms1.jpg|Nigerians shopping in a mall in [[Lagos]] File:Kwarastatedrummers.jpg|[[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] Nigerian men of [[Kwara State|Kwara]] origin, wearing traditional clothing and playing drums File:Durbar.jpg|Horseman at the [[Durbar festival|Kano Durbar festival]] File:Igbo hat and Isiagu.jpg|[[Igbo people|Igbo]] Nigerian men, wearing the modern [[Isiagu]] with traditional Igbo men's hat File:IGBO CULTURAL ATTIRE.jpg|An [[Igbo people|Igbo]] man in his cultural attire File:Eyo Iga Jump.jpg|An Eyo Iga Olowe Salaye masquerade jumping File:LocationNigeria.png|Map of west [[Africa]], showing Nigeria in dark green File:View of Lokoja city from mountain Patti, Lokoja.jpg|A view of [[lokoja]] on top of hill [[Mount Patti]]. Kogi state </gallery> In Nigeria, more than fifty percent of Nigerians live in [[Village|villages]] of two different types: the first type used by the [[Igbo people|Igbo]] and [[Tiv people|Tiv]] involves a collection of dispersed compounds while the second type used amongst the [[Hausa–Fulani|Hausa-Fulani]], [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]], and Kanuri involves nuclei of compounds.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 6">Toyin Falola. ''Culture and Customs of Nigeria''. Westport, Connecticut, USA: Greenwood Press, 2001. p. 6.</ref> These villages compose members of the ethnicity-related through ancestry as well as strangers who have been assimilated into the ethnicity.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 6" /> Since the time prior to colonisation to the present it has been a common practice of Nigeria's tribes to adopt strangers into the tribes.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 4" /> A male elder in the community commonly serves as a village chief or Baale.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 6" /> In the large cities of Nigeria, there is a substantial [[intermingling]] of Nigerians with foreigners, especially Europeans, [[Lebanese people|Lebanese]], and [[Indian people|Indians]].<ref name="Toyin Fall 2001. pp. 8" /> The economic importance of Nigeria's cities has resulted in migrations of people from their traditional ethnic or cultural homeland to cities outside those territories.<ref name="Toyin Fall 2001. pp. 8" /> Igbo, Hausa-Fulani and Ibibio people have commonly migrated to [[Lagos]] and many southerners migrate to the north to trade or work while a number of northern seasonal workers and small-scale entrepreneurs go to the south.<ref name="Toyin Fall 2001. pp. 8" /> == Religion == {{Further|Religion in Nigeria}}There are two main religions in Nigeria, which are Christianity and Islam, they have both made significant impact on the making of African societies, and played significant roles in such a multi-religious country like Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Korieh |first=Chima J. |date=2018-01-14 |title=Olufemi Vaughan. Religion and the Making of Nigeria. Duke University Press, 2016. xi + 336 pp. Notes. Bibliography. Index. $94.95. Cloth. ISBN: 978-0-8223-6206-7. $25.95. Paperback. ISBN: 978-0-8223-6227-2. |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/asr.2017.140 |journal=African Studies Review |volume=61 |issue=1 |pages=274–275 |doi=10.1017/asr.2017.140 |issn=0002-0206}}</ref> There are also other religions practiced in Nigeria.<ref name=":0" /> * [[Islam|Muslim]] 46.8%<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nigeria/ |access-date=4 December 2023 |website=Central Intelligence Agency}}</ref> *[[Christianity|Christian]] 53.2%<ref name=":0" /> * Other 0.6%<ref name=":0" /> == Sectarianism == Ethnic, religious, and regional disputes and tensions have commonly divided Nigerians on political issues.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 111">April A. Gordon. ''Nigeria's Diverse Peoples: A Reference Sourcebook''. Santa Barbara, California, USA: ABC-CLIO, 2003. p. 111.</ref> In particular, cultural and political divisions between the [[Islam|Muslim]] north and the [[Christianity|Christian]] south has politicised religion and caused significant political disputes in Nigeria.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 111" /> Ethnic-motivated and religious-motivated violence by extremists has increased these tensions as well.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 233" /> However, despite instances of extremism, most Nigerians continue to peacefully coexist, and a common Nigerian identity has been fostered amongst the more educated and affluent Nigerians as well as with the many Nigerians who leave small homogeneous ethnic communities to seek economic opportunities in the cities where the population is ethnically mixed.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 233" /> Although there are cultural divisions amongst Nigerians, the English language is commonly used as their primary language.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 233" /> Also, most Nigerians share a strong commitment to individual liberties and democracy.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 233" /> Even during periods of military rule, such military governments were pressured to maintain democratic stances by the Nigerian people.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 233" /> Nigeria's political figures are commonly known as multiple indigenous languages outside their own indigenous language.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 233" /> ==See also== {{Portal|Nigeria}} * [[British Nigerian]] * [[Demographics of Nigeria]] * [[Nigerian Americans]] * [[List of Nigerians]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category-inline|People of Nigeria}} {{authority control}} [[Category:Nigerian people| ]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Nigeria]] Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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