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Multi-Cultural Week

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Nigeria Continent: Africa

Current Population: 170,123,740 

Official language: English, Hausa

How to say hello: “Sannu” “Salama alaikum”  

Other languages: Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500 additional indigenous languages

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Religion Main religion: Muslim 50%, Christian

40%

Other religions: Indigenous 10%

National Symbol: Eagle

National Anthem: “Arise Oh Compatriots, Nigeria's Call Obey”

Legal System: mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law

+ Popular Dishes Isu – spicy boiled

yams Dodo – fried

plantains

Efo – green stew Iyan – pounded yams and jollof rice

+Traditional Clothing Nigerian clothing is unique and attractive.

Lace, jacquard, adire, and ankara are some of the materials that are used to prepare dresses in Nigeria.

Other than traditional attire, the people also wear western attires.

+ Top – Buba is a loose top that reaches down a little below the waist.

Headgear – Gele (women) and Fila (men)

Bottom – Iro (women) and Sokoto (men)

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Nigeria has many local festivals that date back to the time before the arrival of the major religions, and which are still occasions for masquerade and dance.

The local festivals cover an enormous range of events: harvest festivals betrothal festivals investing of a new chief funerals

Customs and Traditions

+Arugungu Fishing Festival

(Harvest)

The Benin Festival (Matchmaking)

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Rite of Passage (Coming of Age) Celebration

In the Igbo tribe, the “Rite of Passage” experience is a celebration of an Igbo youth becoming an adult.

The youth spend the night before the initiation learning from elders what the Igbo community would expect from them, which includes teamwork, leadership, values, and responsibilities.

Customs and Traditions

+ Government Type: Federal Republic (like USA)

President: Goodluck Jonathan

Vice President: Mohammed Namadi Sambo

Fact: Gained its independence from

the UK in October 1, 1960

Capitol: Abuja

+ Other Facts Infant Mortality Rate: 74.36

deaths/ 1000 live births

Life Expectancy: Male: 48.95 years, Female: 55.33 years

Fertility Rate: 5.38 children born per woman

Literacy: Age 15 and over who can read and write Male: 72.1%, Female: 50.4%

+ Other Facts Nigeria is often called the

“Giant of Africa” Vastness of its land Diversity of its peoples and

language The largest population in

Africa Abundant natural

resources, including oil

Nigeria’s most important export is oil, more than half of which is shipped to the United States

At least 60% of Nigerians live below the poverty line, existing on less than a dollar a day. Unfair distribution of the

country’s oil wealth