MODULE 1: BACKGROUND TO THE COURSE (PEOPLE AND CULTURE OF NIGERIA)

Before the year 1900, all the different parts of Nigeria conquered by the British
were still under their original administration. But by 1900, the whole Nigeria was
under the responsibility of the British Colonial Office. The May 1906
amalgamation is known as the first ever amalgamation of the British in Nigeria
and the second amalgamation in January 1914, Lord Frederick Lugard, the
governor of both the Northern Nigeria Protectorate and the Colony
and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria, signed a document consolidating and
joining the two, thereby creating the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.

Furthermore, nationalistic awareness arouse at home and aboard among

Nigerians which resulted to the formation of political parties.

Nigeria was granted independence on October 1, 1960. A new constitution

established a federal system with an elected prime minister and a ceremonial
head of state. Nigeria democracy was interrupted several times by military coup,
which resulted to civil war in 6th July, 1967.

Nigeria is a multinational country, as it is inhabited by about 500 ethnic groupings,

of which the three largest and major ethnic groups are the Hausa, Igbo and
Yoruba. Other ethnic groups in Nigeria are Kanuri, Fulani, Bini, Tiv, Ijaw, Idoma,
Igala, Jukun, Efik, Ibibio, Nupe etc. There are some states that have more than ten
different ethnic groups speaking different languages. These ethnic groups speak
over 500 different languages, have diverse cultures, and exhibits unique art.

Nigeria is situated between latitudes 400E and 1400N and longitude 300E and
1400E of the Greenwich meridian. It is bounded in the west by the Republic of
Benin, on the north by the Republic of Niger, on the north-east, by Lake Chad, on
the east by the Republic of Cameroun and in the south by the Atlantic Ocean. It
has a total area of 923, 768 square kilometres. It has a total of 910, 768 landed
mass and 13,000 square kilometre water ways. It is mostly located in the tropical
region. As one moves from the south to the north, the vegetation progressively
changes from tropical rain forest to savannah grassland. Typically, there are two
main seasons: rainy season and dry season interspersed by the harmattan season.
The rains are heaviest in the south and thinnest in the north. Since the 1970s
desert encroachment and desertification have become a serious environmental
problem to the northernmost states. Nigeria has a population of about
218,087,726 people as of Saturday, November 5, 2022, based on Worldometer
elaboration of the latest United Nations data. Equally, divided between males and
females and Christians and Muslims.

Politically, Nigeria is currently divided into six geo-political zones, namely; North-
central, North-east, North-west, South-east, South-west and South-south.

The North-central region comprises of six (6) states namely; Benue state, Kogi
state, Kwara state, Nasarawa state, Niger state and Plateau state.

The North-east region comprises of six (6) states namely; Adamawa state, Bauchi
state, Borno state, Gombe state, Taraba state, and Yobe state.

The North-west region comprises of seven (7) states namely; Jigawa state, Kaduna
state, Kano state, Katsina state, Kebbi state, Sokoto state and Zamfara state.

The South-east region comprises of five (5) states namely; Abia state, Anambra
state, Ebonyi state, Enugu state and Imo state.

The South-west region comprises of six (6) states namely; Ekiti state, Lagos state,
Ogun state, Ondo state, Osun state, and Oyo state.

The South-south region ( also known as Niger-Delta region) comprises of six (6)
states namely; Akwa Ibom state, Bayelsa state, Cross River state, Delta state, Edo
state and River state.

In general, Nigeria has thirty-six (36) states. Abuja is the (federal capital territory
(FCT) official capital of Nigeria. It is important to note that, Abuja is not a state but
the capital of Nigeria.

Nigeria has very rich tourism and cultural site, namely; Osun-Osogbo sacred
groves, Idanre hills in Ondo state, Ogbunike caves in Anambra state, Oban hills
and land scape in Cross river state, Ancient walls of Kano, Dala hill, the Emir
Palace, Zuma rock in Niger state, Ground pyramids, etc.

Nigeria also have rich cultural festivals, such as; Argungu fishing festivals, Calabar
carnival, New yam festival of the Igbo, Igede Agba new yam festival of the Igede
people in Benue state, Eyo festival, Durbar festival of Northern cities of Nigeria
etc.

The ethnic, cultural and economic variations and long years of intermingling
among the various groups have combined to produce very rich cultures and art
forms which form the heritage of modern Nigeria.

Learning outcomes at the end of this course, students should be able to:

(1) Examine the importance and functions of culture to the people of Nigeria. Also
will have sound knowledge of the different types of ethic group’s culture and how
to co- exist with one another.

(2) Analyse the historical foundation of Nigerian cultures and arts in pre-colonial
times;

(3) Identify and list the major linguistic/ethic groups in Nigeria;

(4) Explain the gradual evolution of Nigeria as a political entity;

(5) Analyse the concepts of trade and economic self-reliance of Nigerian peoples
in relation to national development;

(6) Enumerate the challenges of the Nigerian state regarding nation building;

(7) Analyse the role of the judiciary in upholding fundamental human rights;

(8) Identify the acceptable norms and values of the major ethnic groups in
Nigeria; and
(9) List possible solutions to identifiable Nigerian environmental, moral and value
problems;

(10) Examine the Nigerian cultural heritage and also Nigerian cultural policy and
its (policy) objectives.

Unit 1: CONCEPT OF CULTURE

The word “culture” comes from the Latin word “cultura” related to cult or
worship. In its broadest sense, the term refers to the result of human interaction.

Culture is a way of life. The food you eat, the clothes you wear, the language you
speak in and the God you worship all are aspects of culture. In very simple terms,
we can say that culture is the embodiment of the way in which we think and do
things. It is also the things that we have inherited as members of society. All the
achievements of human beings as members of social groups can be called culture.
Art, music, literature, architecture, sculpture, philosophy, religion and science can
be seen as aspects of culture. However, culture also includes the customs,
traditions, festivals, ways of living and one’s outlook on various issues of life.

Culture thus refers to a human-made environment which includes all the material
and non-material products of group life that are transmitted from one generation
to the next. There is a general agreement among social scientists that culture
consists of explicit and implicit patterns of behaviour acquired by human beings.
These may be transmitted through symbols, constituting the distinctive
achievements of human groups, including their embodiment as artifacts. The
essential core of culture thus lies in those finer ideas which are transmitted within
a group-both historically derived as well as selected with their attached value.
More recently, culture denotes historically transmitted patterns of meanings
embodied in symbols, by means of which people communicate, perpetuate and
develop their knowledge about and express their attitudes toward life. Culture is
the expression of our nature in our modes of living and thinking. It may be seen in
our literature, in religious practices, in recreation and enjoyment.
Culture varies from place to place and country to country. Its development is
based on the historical process operating in a local, regional or national context.
For example, we differ in our ways of greeting others, our clothing, food habits,
social and religious customs and practices from the West. In other words, the
people of any country are characterized by their distinctive cultural traditions.

Cultures are defined as the complex whole that includes the set of knowledge,
beliefs, arts, morals, laws and customs, and any other capabilities and habits that
need to be put into operation by the individuals as members of society. Culture
consists of patterns, which are implicit and explicit, of and for behaviour that are
acquired and transmitted by symbols, constituting the distinctive achievements of
human groups, including their embodiment in artifacts.

Culture can be defined as all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions
of a population that is passed down from generation to generation. Culture has
been called "the way of life for an entire society." As such, it includes codes of
manners, dress, language, religion, rituals, and art.

Culture is everything which is socially shared and learned by the members of a

society. It is that complex whole including beliefs, art, region, values, norms,
ideas, law, taught, knowledge, custom and other capabilities acquired by a man as
a member of a society.

It is the totality of human experience acquired during transmission of heritage

from one generation to another and to learn the ways of learning, eating,
drinking, behaving, walking, dressing, and working is the culture of man.

Unit 2: IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE

Culture is closely linked with life. It is not an add-on, an ornament that we as
human beings can use. It is not merely a touch of colour. It is what makes us
human. Without culture, there would be no humans. Culture is made up of
traditions, beliefs, and way of life, from the most spiritual to the most material. It
gives us meaning, a way of leading our lives. Human beings are creators of culture
and, at the same time, culture is what makes us human. The following are the
importance of culture;

1) Ancestry:

Our cultures help us gain valuable information about our ancestry. Cultural
traditions are like pages in a history book which should be read with interest.
Human beings do not live for eternity, but their cultures do. Cultures give us a
gateway to study about our ancestors.

2) Self-realization:

When we study about the roots of our cultures and follow them accordingly, we
get to know about ourselves much better. We can better relate to our origin and
value ourselves more. It boosts our self-respect and dignity to follow our culture.
It also makes us feel proud to belong to our own culture.

3) Evolutionary enlightenment:

Knowing our culture in-depth gives us a sneak peek into our evolution. Cultures
have originated in ancient times when human beings started to live as a
community. Thus, studying about our cultures and of the entire world`s is
extremely interesting and it sure give us some enlightenment about ancient
times. This also gives us the required clarity against all our doubts.

4) Culture is what preserves our heritage:

Our heritage has been passed down by many generations before us. Without
culture and its various elements such as dressing, language, tribal marks, food,
etc. we will have no heritage to show the world of our roots.

Our ancestors in the older generations did well to pass down our heritage through
oratory and symbolic festivals; otherwise, we will know nothing about heritage
and roots.
 5) Moral values:

Following a culture instills moral values in us. Every culture has its share of
knowledge and beliefs which make us better human beings. It makes us
responsible people who can co-exist with each other in a harmonious society.

6) Discipline:

Cultural traditions keep us disciplined. Every culture has certain norms and laws
laid down, which if followed leads to peaceful existence. The rules were made for
a reason and should be followed rightly. Neglecting cultural traditions is not wise
and should not be kept as an option.

7) Knowledge:

Detailed study about every aspect of our culture can give us profound knowledge.
Cultures never demand blind followers. Everything is well explained and
accounted for in history. Studying about them will make us more knowledgeable.

8) Compassion:

Every culture teaches us to co-exist with all the other cultures in the world.
Cultural teachings always aim for peace. They teach us to live compassionately
and respectfully with everyone, so that peace prevails.

9) Meaning of life:

Cultures teach us the real meaning of life. Every phase of our life demands
different actions and our culture teaches us that. As we grow up and grow old,
our culture holds our hand and directs us towards the right path.

10) Safeguard future generations:

Cultural traditions were made by our experienced ancestors who wanted to pass
on their valued knowledge about life to every generation of mankind henceforth,
to make their survival easier.
 11) Responsibility:

Cultural traditions teach us to be responsible human beings. A culture-less and

lawless human being is just another animal. Our culture and society make us be
the responsible entities that we are.

12) Vibrant communities:

The benefits of culture from individuals can spill over to society as a whole.
Culture helps build social capital, the glue that holds communities together. By
bringing people together, cultural activities such as festivals, fairs, or classes
create social solidarity and capacity-building, enhancing confidence, civic pride
and tolerance. The social capital created through culture increases with regular
participation in cultural activities.

13) Better health and well-being:

Participation in culture contributes to healthy populations in several ways.

Creativity and cultural engagement have been shown to improve both mental and
physical health. A growing body of research also demonstrates that arts can
improve the health and well-being of older adults. Participation in the arts can
relieve isolation and promote identity formation and inter-cultural understanding.

14) Job creation:

Year in year out, people are faced with different cultural festivals and ceremonies
that require them to wear cultural attire. One of such is the traditional marriages
between couples, in which they have to use traditional neckpieces, fabrics, caps,
and headgears.

Traditional bead-making or buying and reselling of beads together with other

items symbolic to culture is a way to make a living or have an additional source of
income. People that are employed in museums and some of the cultural sites also
make a living from it. The cultural musicians, dancers and movie or drama actors
or actresses earn income from it.
 15)Culture can create a vent for stress relief through the recreational activities it brings
during festivals:

After having a hectic farming year, the new yam festival for instance is something
that can help a yam farmer, his family and friends, relax.

Wrestling matches for the males and dance competitions for young girls is not
only recreational; it makes for fitness because it is a form of exercise.

16) Culture has the potential of increasing our gross domestic products (GDP) from
tourism:
Fun travelers and tourists from all parts of the world will not only love to visit
cultural museums where ancient paintings and artwork are preserved, but they
will also pay for the visit.

Our multi-ethnicity leaves us with a lot to show off, from masquerades to shrines
and natural features that are symbolic of our culture.

Nigeria has a lot to gain if she can invest in culture for the purpose of growing our
tourist attractions and consequently its revenue from tourism.

17) Culture beautifies our towns and cities:

Ancient and cultural paintings and artworks (sculptures, monuments) erected in

the strategic locations within cities and towns beautify them.

Conclusion:

Our culture should be upheld as our heritage. Nothing and no one should be
allowed to attack or destroy our cultural traditions. It is always wise to remember
that our cultures define our existence and make us who we are. It should be
passed on generations after generation, like it has been done until now. Our
cultural background should never fade into oblivion and we have to make sure of
that. A world without diverse cultural will not be as colourful as it is now.
Unit 3: FUNCTIONS OF CULTURE
Culture functions to deeply influence control, direct behavior and life of the
individual and of group. All these functions are controlled through norms or rules
made in society. These norms may be governed by sanctions or punishment, so
the study of norms, mores, folkways, laws etc. is necessary for knowing the
culture of society.

1. Culture provides us with design for living. It is always learned and acquired.

2. Culture provides a series of pattern by which biological and socio-cultural

demands of group members are met e.g. food, shelter, and reproduction and
relationship with group and individuals.

3. Culture provides a set of rules to ensure co-operation of the individuals of a

group in adjusting environmental situation.

4. Culture provides individual a set of ready-made definition of situation. Each

culture has many subtle cues which define each situation. It reveals whether one
should prepare to fight, run, laugh, or friendly e.g. someone outstretched his
hand at waist level, what does it mean? In some culture, it means friendship,
other cultures it means warning while other cultures means trouble.

5. Culture helps in understanding and predicting the human behavior and also it
provides channels of interaction for individuals within the group. For example,
verbal and non-verbal (sign and symbols) channels of interaction.
6. Culture provides us a guidepost or kind of map for all our life activities. It
defines the pattern of behavior for individuals so that he acts according to the
behavior pattern prescribed and defined by culture.

7. Culture acts as a means of social control through norms, folkway, and moves
laws.

8. Culture defines myths, legends, and the supernatural. We cannot understand

any ethnic group without knowing something about their myths, legend and
supernatural beliefs the hold. Myths help us to know about the origin, understand
the patterns of life and the supernatural beliefs of a particular ethnic group.
Myths and legends are powerful forces in ethnic group behaviour.

Unit 4: FEATURES OF CULTURE

Features of culture is refers to the attributes that makes up, builds up and
institute culture in the society and there are the important parts of culture.

Features of culture are government, religion, arts and literature, customs and
traditions, language, social organization and economic system.

i) Government:

Government is the group of people with the authority to govern a country or

state. The governments are the people or organization within a society that
governs a culture. The government institute culture by making and enforcing laws
within a society. Those laws made or laid down by the government are what
guilds the people’s daily activities.

ii) Religion:

Religion is the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially

a personal God or gods. Types of religion are Christianity, Islam, Traditional
worship, Hinduism, Atheism, and Judaism etc.
Religion is a set of practices and beliefs important to a culture. Religion institute
culture in the society by creating sets of morals to live by. Religion preaches good
morals and condemns bad morals. These sets of morals create by religion guild
our everyday activities in the way we live.

iii) Arts and Literature:

Arts and Literature are forms of human expression of culture through songs,
poems, adages, dance, architectural buildings, sculptures, artifacts, written
literature, prose, dramas, plays etc.

Culture is expressed, conveyed and preserved from one person to another or

from generation to generations through arts and literature.

iv) Customs and Traditions:

Customs and Traditions are very essentials feature of culture. Customs can be a
representation of culture.

Custom is a widely accepted, traditional way of behaving or doing something that

is specific to a particular society, which is handed down from generation to
generation.

Customs promotes a common history and common culture. Each society, religion,
community have their own unique customs

v) Language:

Language is one of the most important parts of any culture. It is the way by which
people communicate with one another, build relationships and create a sense of
community, through verbal and non-verbal way of communication. Verbal
communication is through speaking and making sound while non-verbal
communication is through sign and symbols.

Communication makes it easy to express ideas and thoughts within a culture.

vi) Social Organization:

Social organization refers to a smaller unit within a group. Social organization can
also be refers to the network of relationships in a group and how they connect.
For example family, religious group, kinship, youth group, age group, school group
etc.

This network of relationships helps members of a group stay connected to one

another in order to maintain a sense of community within a group. The social
organization of a group is influenced by culture and it allows cultures to organize
those around them. Within a social organization of a group of people, there are
leaders.

vii) Economic System

Economic system is a system of production, resource allocation and distribution

of goods and services within a society or a given geographic area.

Economic system is an integral part of culture due to the manner in which a

culture produces and distributes its goods and services. It refers to the conditions
under which cultural groups make use of the capabilities of its individuals and the
environment to derive some benefits. For instance, the Urhobo, Itsekiri, Ijaw
people from the south-south region of Nigeria, Jukuns from Taraba state and the
people from Argungu in Kebbi state are predominantly fisher men, this is because
they reside along the banks of Warri river, river Benue and Sokoto river
respectively. Fishing as an occupation is transferred from one generation to the
next in those communities.

Unit 5: TYPES OF CULTURE

There are two (2) basic types of culture, which are material culture and non-
material culture.

a) Material Culture:
Material cultures are physical or tangible objects or things produced and used by
a particular ethnic group (society) and are passed down from one generation to
the next, such as tools and technology, clothing, eating utensils, mean of
transportation, architectural buildings, artifacts, monuments, sculptures, foods
etc.

b) Non-Material Culture:
Non-material cultures are intangible or abstract things produced and used by a
particular ethnic group (society) and are passed down from one generation to the
next, such as customs, ideas, values, religion, norms, laws, languages, attitude,
manners, habits, songs etc.

Unit 6: CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE

Now let us discuss some general characteristics of culture, which are the unique
qualities of different cultures throughout Nigeria. Some of the important
characteristics of culture have been cited below.

1. Culture is learned:

Culture is not inherited biologically but it is leant socially by man in a society. It is

not an inborn tendency but acquired by man from the association of others, e.g.
drinking, eating, dressing, walking, behaving, reading are all learnt by man.

2. Culture is social:

It is not an individual phenomena but it is the product of society. It develops in

the society through social interaction. It is shared by the man of society; no man
can acquire it without the association of others. Man is man only among men. It
helps to develop qualities of human beings in a social environment. Deprivation of
a man from his company is the deprivation of human qualities.

3. Culture is shared:

Culture is something shared. It is nothing that an individual can passes but shared
by common people of a territory. For example, customs, traditions, values, beliefs
are all shared by man in a social situation. These beliefs and practices are adopted
by all equally.

4. Culture is transmitted:
Culture is capable of transmitted from one generation to the next. Parents pass
cultural traits to their children and in return they pass to their children and son
on. It is not transmitted through genes but through language. Language is means
to communication which passes cultural traits from one generation to another.

5. Culture is continuous:

It is continuous process. It is like a stream which is flowing from one generation to

another through centuries. “Culture is the memory of human race.”

6. Culture is accumulative:

Culture is not a matter of month or a year. It is the continuous process and adding
new cultural traits. Many cultural traits are borrowed from outside and these
absorbed in that culture which adopt it, as culture is accumulative and combines
the suitable cultural traits.

7. Culture is integrated:

All the cultural aspects are inter-connected with each other. The development of
culture is the integration of its various parts. For example, values system is
interlinked with morality, customs, beliefs and religion.

8. Culture is dynamic/changing:

It remains changing but not static. Cultural process undergoes changes. But with
different speeds from society to society and generation to generation.

9. Culture varies from society to society:

Every society has its own culture and ways of behaving. It is not uniform
everywhere but occurs differently in various societies. Every culture is unique in
itself is a specific society. For example, values, customs, traditions, ideologies,
religion, belief, practices are not similar but different in every society. However
the ways of eating, drinking, speaking, greeting, dressing etc are differs from one
social situation to another in the same time.

10. Culture is responsive:

Culture is responsive to the changing conditions of a physical world. It intervenes

in the natural environment and helps man from all dangers and natural calamities
e.g. our houses are responsible to give us shelter and safety from storm and
heavy rains.

11. Culture is gratifying:

It is gratifying and provide all the opportunities for needs and desires satisfaction.
These needs may be biological or social but it is responsible to satisfy it. Our
needs are food, shelter, clothing and desires are status, fame, money, sex etc. are
all the examples which are fulfilled according to the cultural ways. In fact it is
defined as the process through which human beings satisfy their need.

12) Culture is pervasive:

Culture touches every aspect of life.

13. Linked with society:

Lastly, culture and society are one and the same. But if we say that these turn two
are twin sister, it would not be wrong. Society is a composite of people and they
interact with each other through it. It is to bind the people within the society.

Unit 7: ELEMENTS OF CULTURE

Culture was defined earlier as the total ways of life of people, such as the food
you eat, the clothes you wear, the language you speak in, the God you worship,
symbols you communicate with, beliefs, values, and artifacts that are part of any
society. As this definition suggests, there are two basic types of culture: ideas and
symbols (non-material) on the one hand and artifacts (material objects) on the
other. The first type, called non-material culture, includes the values, beliefs,
symbols, and language that define a society. The second type, called material
culture, includes all the society’s physical objects, such as its tools and
technology, clothing, eating utensils, and means of transportation.

The elements of culture explain culture from the standpoint of what’s common
across all cultures. For example, all cultures sings and dance. However, two
cultures may differ in the way they sing and dance, or they may have similar
elements that are being expressed in different ways. These differences help
create distinction between different cultures, making for many different ways that
the human being can come to live and take a perspective of the world.

These elements of culture are discussed below;

i) NORMS

Cultures differ widely in their norms, or standards and expectations for behaving.
Norms are the formal and informal rules regarding what kinds of behavior are
acceptable and appropriate within a culture.
Norms are specific to a culture, time, period, and situation. Norms are specific
cultural expectations on how to behave in a given situation and society.

Norms are standard set up to tell one is right from wrong and it is an aspect of
culture, human lives by.

Norms are often divided into two types, formal norms and informal norms.
Formal norms; are norms that is specifically taught. Formal norms also
called mores and laws refer to the standards of behavior considered the most
important in any society. Examples in Nigeria include traffic laws, criminal codes,
and, in a college context, student behaviour codes addressing such things as
examination mal-practice and mode of dressing.

Informal norms; are norms that are learned by observation or without direction.
Informal norms also called folkways and customs refer to standards of behavior
that are considered less important but still influence how we behave. Table
manners, respects for elders, greetings are common examples of informal norms,
as are such everyday behaviours as how we interact with one another.
All cultures have norms that they live by but many norms differ dramatically from
one culture to the other.

ii) SYMBOLS

Every culture is filled with symbols, or things that stand for something else and
that often evokes various reactions and emotions. Some symbols are actually
types of non-verbal communication, while other symbols are in fact material
objects. Culture is emphasized as shared symbols which makes social interaction
possible.

Non-verbal symbols: Non-verbal symbol is a way we communicate or interact

with one another in a community or society without making a sound. It could be
soundless communication through signs and symbols understood by only the
members of the society or community or generally understood by every societies
or communities. For example; facial expressions, gestures, paralinguistic, body
language, proxemics or personal space, eye gaze, haptic (touch), appearance, and
artifacts. A common one is shaking hands, which is done in some societies but
not in others. It commonly conveys friendship and is used as a sign of both
greeting and departure. Probably all societies have non-verbal symbols we call
gestures, movements of the hands, arms, or other parts of the body that are
meant to convey certain ideas or emotions. However, the same gesture can mean
one thing in one society and something quite different in another society. In some
cultures in Nigeria, for example, if we nod our head up and down, we mean yes,
and if we shake it back and forth, we mean no. In Bulgarian culture, however,
nodding means no, while shaking our head back and forth means yes!

•Gestures are the signs that we make with our body, such as hand gestures and
facial expressions; it is important to note that these gestures also carry meaning.
Some gestures have the same meaning in some cultures while it has different
meaning in other cultures.

Some of our most important symbols are objects. For instance, in some cultures
in Nigeria, palm frond at the entrance to a house, symbolize a death of someone
from that house. In the Igbo culture, kola nut basically symbolizes peace, unity,
reconciliation, integrity, life, fraternity, hospitality, goodwill and kindness.

As these examples indicate, shared symbols, both non-verbal communication and

tangible objects, are an important part of any culture but also can lead to
misunderstandings and even hostility. These problems underscore the
significance of symbols for social interaction and meaning.

iii) LANGUAGE

Perhaps our most important set of symbols is language. Language could be seen
as a set of symbols and rules that lead to complex communication system. Some
scholars even see the life we live as a series of conversations, either verbal or
non-verbal. Members learn spoken language and the special terms of reference
used by the ethnic group. For instance; money in Hausa language is Kudi, money
in Igbo language is Ego and money in Yoruba language is Owo. As long as we
agree how to interpret these words, a shared language and thus society are
possible. By the same token, differences in languages can make it quite difficult to
communicate. For example, imagine you are in a foreign country where you do
not know the language and the country’s citizens do not know yours. Worse yet,
you forgot to bring your dictionary that translates their language into yours, and
vice versa, and your iPhone battery has died. You become lost. How will you get
help? What will you do? Is there any way to communicate your plight?

As this scenario suggests, language is crucial to communication and thus to any

society’s culture. Children learn language from their culture just as they learn
about values, norms, habits, morals, shaking hands, about gestures, and about
the significance of signs and symbols. Humans have a capacity for language that
no other animal species possesses. Our capacity for language in turn helps make
our complex culture possible.

All ethnic groups (cultures) communicates and expresses themselves through

languages but it differs in the way it sounds and manners of communications.

iv) RITUALS
In various parts of the world, there are different practices that mark transitioning
from one phase of life to another. It could be as simple as handing over the keys
to a car to a young teenager showing that he is now an adult and responsible for
their own decision or as elaborate as throwing rituals or spiritual events that
welcome the person to a new phase.

Ritual is define as a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions

performed according to a prescribed order. In Nigeria, most of these rites are
typically celebrated through music, dance and ceremony. These rites may be
similar to one or more tribes, bearing a different name somewhere else and
having a slight alteration. A lot of them used to be barbaric with female genital
mutilation being one of the most well-known amongst the others. While the
numbers of tribes practicing these barbaric rites are reduced and more tribes are
adopting new practices that are less harmful, there are still some groups in the
country that celebrate these today.

Here are some of the most interesting rites of passage in Nigeria.

Iria Ritual

The Iria Ritual is popular to various tribes in the Niger Delta, with some forms of
the ritual being harsher than the others. It typically involves young girls who are
between 14 and 16 years undergoing rituals that prepare them for marriage. In
some places, these girls have to be bare-breasted in front of the crowd for
inspection. The goal of this is to ensure that their virginity is intact.

The young girls also get to visit the fattening room where they are well fed with
body nourishing meals, especially pounded yam mixed with pounded plantain. In
the fattening room, the ladies are pampered and are prepared to dance half-
naked at the market square. At the end of their stay in the fattening room, they
are changed and look more beautiful. Their bodies are then painted in different
colours for the dance.

In time past, it was believed that if one did not go through the Iria ritual it would
be very difficult for her to have a child. One of the common beliefs among the
people is that young women going through puberty have attachments to water
spirits and so, they gather at dawn to chase the spirits. After this, a senior male
member of the tribe strikes the girls with sticks sending them back to the village.
Iwa Akwa

In some parts of Eastern Nigeria, Iwa Akwa, also known as cloth wearing is the
tradition that marks a young boy’s initiation into manhood. It used to be more
widespread in times past but today, it is celebrated once in three years in some
communities such as Ugbo, Uboma, Umuezegwu to mention but a few. When a
young man is in his twenties, there is an investigation into his family and lifestyle
to know about his eligibility. Some of the questions asked include whether his
mother was properly married and whether he is linked to the Osu caste system,
paternally or maternally. When everything checks out, he would then join an age
group and he would have to buy a high-quality George wrapper. The festival is
traditionally a two-day event. On the first day which is the initiation, previous
celebrants come to show their seniority to the new initiates. The new initiates
have to perform certain rites such as fetching water and shining the shoes of the
older initiates as a sign of respect. On the second day, which is the main day of
Iwa Akwa, the wrapper is spread in front of the family compound and blessed.
Then the wrapper is worn and there’s a procession along the streets with
pomp and fanfare.

The wrapper is seen as a sign of coverage. Before now, he was a naked child and
now he is a clothed adult. It welcomes him into manhood and he can now take up
responsibilities in his family and community.

The Sharo

The Sharo is practiced amongst the Fulani tribe in Nigeria. Sharo means flogging
and celebrates the bravery and endurance of young men who intend passing from
that phase to being referred to as men. They are bare-chested and are escorted
to the ring by young women with drums and cheers from spectators. A couple of
these young men recite mantras during the flogging and others undergo a
fortification process in preparation for the day. The families, on the other hand,
pray that their sons do not bring disgrace to them as one who doesn’t withstand
the flogging is seen as a disgrace. After the flogging, the boys become men and
are allowed to marry the women they want.

v) VALUES
Values are another important element of culture and involve judgments of what
is good or bad and desirable or undesirable. Values stipulate what is desirable and
morally correct.

Cultural values are a series of principles and values passed on generation after
generation by our ancestors. Based on values the entire cultural community
decides their way of life. Those ideas decide how a person of that culture will
behave and how they will lead their lives.

All culture in Nigeria has their values as honesty, patriotism, charity, freedom,
equality and justice, individualism, responsibility, accountability, transparency,
trust, and selfless service to the community. A culture's values shape its norms.

It makes people learn tolerance and understand brotherhood which paves the
path of social harmony, economic improvement and physical well-being of the
community and the others. In Nigeria, for example, a central value is group
harmony. The Nigerians place great emphasis on harmonious social relationships
and dislike interpersonal conflict.

vi) Artifacts

The last element of culture is artifacts. Artifacts are material objects that
constitute a society's material culture. In the simplest societies, artifacts are
largely limited to a few tools, the huts people live in, and the clothing they wear.
An artifact reminds us of our great march from history into posterity. It describes
the identity, culture and heritage of a particular people. Anything that evidences
the social, political, economic or religious organization of the people to whom it
belongs is qualified as an artifact. Thus, an artifact may be defined as an object
that has been intentionally made for some purpose.

Artifacts are arts which represent the cultural identity of a group of people; they
are often time-linked with the history and culture of any nation and are part of its
cultural heritage.

Artifacts such as an archaeological item, a tool or a vessel are man-made objects

which reveal valuable information about the society that made or used it.

Examples of artifacts in different cultures in Nigeria are; Nok terracotta pieces

from Jaba local government area of Kaduna state, Benin Bronze, Ife bronze head
Esie soap stones, Oron monoliths, ivory carvings from Benin, Igbo ukwu arts in
Aguata local government area of Anambra state, traditional attires are also
cultural artifacts.

Just as language and dance depict different cultures, so do artifacts depict the
group of people it represents as well as those who made and used them, and this
is important in national identity.