Nigeria's culture is as varied as its peoples. The Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo are the largest of the many ethnic groups of the country, and each region has its own languages, crafts, music, dress and cuisine. This diversity is a source of national pride and a growing creative economy.
Living heritage recognised by UNESCO
Eight Nigerian elements are inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
- the Ifa divination system (2008), the body of knowledge and verse of the Yoruba tradition;
- the oral heritage of Gelede (2008), the masked performances of Yoruba communities that honour women and mothers;
- the Ijele masquerade (2009), one of the largest masquerades of Igbo tradition;
- the Argungu international fishing and cultural festival (2016), held in Kebbi State;
- the Kwagh-Hir theatrical performance (2019) of the Tiv people;
- the Sango festival in Oyo (2023);
- midwifery: knowledge, skills and practices (2023), an element shared with other countries;
- the Durbar in Kano (2024), the horse-riding procession held during the Eid celebrations.
Literature
Nigerian writers have a large readership around the world. Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart, published in 1958, is one of the most widely read African novels. In 1986, Wole Soyinka became the first African writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. New generations of Nigerian novelists and poets continue to win international recognition.
Music and film
Lagos is one of Africa's great music capitals. Afrobeat, created by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in the 1970s, and the Afrobeats sound of today's Nigerian artists are heard in clubs and concert halls on every continent. Nigeria's film industry, widely known as Nollywood, produces a very large number of films each year and is watched across Africa and in the diaspora.
Arts and crafts
Nigeria has a long tradition of sculpture, from the terracotta figures of the Nok culture to the bronzes of Ife and Benin. Today, visitors can see the work of traditional craftspeople, such as the bronze casters of Benin City and the dyers of Kano, alongside the contemporary art scenes of Lagos and Abuja.
Food
Nigerian cuisine is generous and often spicy. Visitors will soon meet jollof rice, pounded yam with egusi soup, suya (spiced grilled meat), moi moi and fried plantain, known as dodo. Each region adds its own specialities.