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The Diversity of Nigeria
Nigeria is a country located in West Africa and is the most populated one in the whole of Africa! It has a population of more than 174 million people and is the 8th most populated country in the world! Nigeria has 36 states, and its capital is Abuja. There are more than 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria but the three main ones are Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo.
Northern Nigeria is made up of high, flat plains and has a very dry climate with little rain falls. Lake Chad is an important source of water for the people living there, but it is now visibly shrinking in size. The two main ethnic groups are the Hausa and Fulani, and both groups are Islamic. The Hausa people tend to live in cities, while the Fulani people tend to live in the country. Part of their culture is being very modest, thus they like to wear loose clothes. Most northern Nigerians make their living as farmers, herders, and traders.
This is an embroidery depicting Yoruba women and their cultural way of dressing.
Western Nigeria is a savanna that used to be a tropical rainforest. Most people live in the two largest cities, Lagos and Ibadan. The Niger River is the main river and it forms the barriers of the northern and eastern parts of Nigeria. The largest ethnic group in the whole of western Nigeria is Yoruba, and most of them are Christian. The Yoruba are known for their beadwork, cloth, and masks made out of wood and ivory. The people work in farms, factories, finance, street markets etc.
In Eastern Nigeria, there is more rainfall than the other parts of Nigeria and swamps line the coast. The Igbo are the largest ethnic group in Eastern Nigeria, and most of them live in villages. Most Igbo, like the Yoruba, are Christians. They like to wear colorful clothing, make wood and leather masks, and do the traditional masquerades. The Igbo are also quite well educated and this improved their lives. They have a large economy because there is the Niger Delta, which is very rich in oil, allowing their oil industries to do well.
This picture shows the Igbo dressed up for their masquerades.
This is a map of Nigeria showing the states and cities.
This picture shows the Hausa-Fulani men wearing lots of layers of clothes.
Written by E-Shane Chew
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