Nigeria has lots of ethnic groups and the multicultural and diverse tribalism in Nigeria would get someone confused.
Nigeria as a country comprises more than 250 ethnic groups cultures and languages however the majority of them are the Igbos, Hausas, and Yorubas. These ethnic groups contain a lot of stripes in them and that is why the tribal nature is very diverse.
the list of the ethnic groups in Nigeria keeps on getting updated because there are people that even clamor for their ethnic group’s recognition because they are a minority no one seems to notice them.
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Let’s look at the largest tribes we have in Nigeria:
1. Hausas
This is one of the major ethnic groups in the northern part of Nigeria. It is known to be the largest ethnic group in West Africa because part of this tribe resides in Sudan, Libya, and other northern parts.
The majority of these ethnic groups prefer living in small villages or towns and they are not extravagant spending as that could be easily seen in the types of houses and clothes they put on.
Over 15 million people in Nigeria speak the Hausa language and it’s known that this ethnic group has birthed over 35 million people.
2. Igbo
This is a rich tribe with a very rich culture that has a history which is up to 4500 BC. This Igbo tribe used a ruling system that is decentralized. And all over the world, there are over 24 million people that speak this language. In Nigeria, this tribe has over 20 dialects under the Igbo language. it is remarkable that people from this tribe has made a solid foundation in the literature of Nigeria.
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That’s a lot to say about the people of Igbo origin especially their enthusiasm about business and money. it is also said that wherever country you step into and you don’t see an Igbo man it is possible that the country is not safe or not financially buoyant as Igbo people like prosperity.
3. Yoruba
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Most people from this tribe live in Nigeria and there is also huge parts of this tribe that reside in Benin or Togo. The people of this drive is estimated to be over 30 million. There are lot of famous people that are from the Yoruba tribe or origin.
It is known that over 40 million people speak this language. and there are Yoruba diasporas that reside in the UK and America.
the religion of the Yoruba as’ is basically Christianity and Islam. Also most people from this tribe are educated to the fullest.
4. Fulani
this tribe is predominantly Muslim people that are scattered from Lake Chad so all over West Africa you can find them in the Atlantic coast in the east and majorly in countries like Niger, Senegal, Guinea, Cameroon, Mali, and Nigeria.
5. Ijaw
The people of this tribe are known to be in the niger Delta part of Nigeria and the inside of estates in Ondo and Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, and Rivers State
6. Idoma
Describe dominate and inhabit in the Western areas of Benue state and they speak their own language known as idoma language. The kindred groups of this tribe could be found in Enugu state and Cross River State.
7. Tiv
this tribe is known to be an ethnic group that consists of the 3.5% total population of Nigeria and has over 6.5 million individuals that reside in Cameroon and Nigeria. The language is spoken by up to 7 million people in both Nigeria and Cameroon.
Full List of ethnic groups in Nigeria and their locations
Name of Ethnic Group | State |
Abayon | Cross River State |
Abua (Odual) | Rivers State |
Achipa (Achipawa) | Kebbi State |
Affade | Yobe State |
Afizere | Plateau State |
Afo | Plateau State |
Agbo | Cross River State |
Akaju-Ndem (Akajuk) | Cross River State |
Akweya-Yachi | Benue State |
Alago (Arago) | Plateau State |
Amo | Plateau State |
Anaguta | Plateau State |
Anang | Akwa Ibom State |
Andoni | Akwa Ibom State, Rivers State |
Angas | Bauchi State, Plateau State |
Anioma | Delta State, Anambra State, Rivers State, Edo State, |
Ankwei | Plateau State |
Anyima | Cross River State |
Attakar (ataka) | Kaduna State |
Auyoka (Sub-Hausa) | Jigawa State |
Awori | Lagos State, Ogun State |
Ayu | Kaduna State |
Babur (Pabir)/Bura | Adamawa State, Taraba State, Yobe State, Borno State, |
Bachama | Adamawa State |
Bachere | Cross River State |
Bada | Plateau State |
Bade | Yobe State |
Baggara Arabs | Borno State |
Bahumono | Cross River State |
Bakulung | Taraba State |
Bali | Taraba State |
Bambora (Bambarawa) | Bauchi State |
Bambuko | Taraba State |
Banda (Bandawa) | Taraba State |
Banka (Bankalawa) | Bauchi State |
Banso (Panso) | Adamawa State |
Bara (Barawa) | Bauchi State |
Barke | Bauchi State |
Baruba (Batonu) | Kwara State, Niger State |
Bashiri (Bashirawa) | Plateau State |
Bassa | Kaduna State, Kogi State, Plateau State, Niger State, |
Batta | Adamawa State |
Baushi | Niger State |
Baya | Adamawa State |
Bekwarra | Cross River |
Bele (Buli, Belewa) | Bauchi State |
Betso (Bete) | Taraba State |
Bette | Cross River State |
Bilei | Adamawa State |
Bille | Rivers State |
Bina (Binawa) | Kaduna State |
Bini (Edo) | Edo State |
Birom | Plateau State |
Bobua | Taraba State |
Boki (Nki) | Cross River State |
Bokkos | Plateau State |
Boko (Bussawa, Bargawa) | Niger State |
Bole (Bolewa) | Bauchi State, Yobe State |
Botlere | Adamawa State |
Boma (Bomawa, Burmano) | Bauchi State |
Bomboro | Bauchi State |
Buduma | Borno State, |
Buji | Plateau State |
Buli | Bauchi State |
Bunu | Kogi State |
Bura/Babur (Pabir) | Adamawa State, Borno State |
Burak | Bauchi State |
Burma (Burmawa) | Plateau State |
Buru | Yobe State |
Buta (Butawa) | Bauchi State |
Bwall | Plateau State |
Bwatiye | Adamawa State |
Bwazza | Adamawa State |
Challa | Plateau State |
Chama (Chamawa Fitilai) | Bauchi State |
Chamba | Taraba State |
Chamo | Bauchi State |
Chibok (Kibaku) | Borno State, Yobe State |
Chinine | Borno State |
Chip | Plateau State |
Chokobo | Plateau State |
Chukkol | Taraba State |
Daba | Adamawa State |
Dadiya | Bauchi State |
Daka | Adamawa State |
Dakarkari | Kebbi State, Niger State |
Danda (Dandawa) | Kebbi State |
Dangsa | Taraba State |
Daza (Dere, Derewa) | Bauchi State |
Deno (Denawa) | Bauchi State |
Dghwede | Borno State |
Diba | Taraba State |
Doemak (Dumuk) | Plateau State |
Ouguri | Bauchi State |
Duka (Dukawa) | Kebbi State |
Duma (Dumawa) | Bauchi State |
Ebana (Ebani) | Rivers State |
Ebira | Edo State, Kogi State, Ondo State |
Ebu | Edo State, Kogi State |
Ebu | Edo State, Kogi State |
Efik | Cross River State |
Egbema | Rivers State |
Egede (Igedde) | Benue State |
Eggon | Plateau State |
Egun (Gu) | Lagos State, Ogun State |
Ejagham | Cross River State |
Ekajuk | Cross River State |
Eket | Akwa Ibom |
Ekoi | Cross River State |
Ekpeye | Rivers State |
Engenni (Ngene) | Rivers State |
Epie | Bayelsa State |
Esan (Ishan) | Edo State |
Etche | Rivers State |
Etolu (Etilo) | Benue State |
Etsako | Edo State |
Etung | Cross River State |
Etuno | Edo State |
Palli | Adamawa State |
Fulani (Fulbe) | Adamawa State, Bauchi State, Gombe State, Jigawa State, Kaduna State, Borno State, Kano State, Kebbi State, Katsina State, Kwara State, Niger State, Sokoto State, Plateau State, Taraba State, Zamfara State, Yobe State. |
Fyam (Fyem) | Plateau State |
Fyer(Fer) | Plateau State |
Ga’anda | Adamawa State |
Gade | Niger State Nasarawa State |
Galambi | Bauchi State |
Gamergu-Mulgwa | Borno State |
Qanawuri | Plateau State |
Gavako | Borno State |
Gbedde | Kogi State |
Gengle | Taraba State |
Geji | Bauchi State |
Gera (Gere, Gerawa) | Bauchi State |
Geruma (Gerumawa) | Plateau State |
Geruma (Gerumawa) | Bauchi State |
Gingwak | Bauchi State |
Gira | Adamawa State |
Gizigz | Adamawa State |
Goemai | Plateau State |
Gokana (Kana) | Rivers State |
Gombi | Adamawa State |
Gornun (Gmun) | Taraba State |
Gonia | Taraba State |
Gubi (Gubawa) | Bauchi State |
Gude | Adamawa State |
Gudu | Adamawa State |
Gure | Kaduna State |
Gurmana | Niger State |
Gururntum | Bauchi State |
Gusu | Plateau State |
Gwa (Gurawa) | Adamawa State |
Gwamba | Adamawa State |
Gwandara | Kaduna State, Niger State, Plateau State |
Gwari (Gbagi) | Kaduna State, Federal Capital Territory, Kogi State, Nasarawa State, Plateau State, Niger State, |
Gwong (Kagoma) | Kaduna State |
Gwom | Taraba State |
Gwoza (Waha) | Borno State |
Gyem | Bauchi State |
Ham (Hyam, Jaba, Jabba) | Kaduna State |
Hausa | Bauchi State, Taraba State , Borno State, Kaduna State, Jigawa State, Kano State, Katsina State, Kebbi State, Niger State, Sokoto State. |
Holma | Adamawa State |
Hona | Adamawa State |
Ibani | Rivers State |
Ibeno | Akwa Ibom State |
Ibibio | Akwa Ibom State |
Ichen | Adamawa State |
Idoma | Benue State,Kogi State, , Cross River State, Nassarawa State |
Igala | Edo State, Kogi State |
Igbo | Abia State, Anambra State, Ebonyi State, , Delta State, Enugu State, Rivers State, Imo State. |
Ijumu | Kogi State |
Ika | Delta State |
Ikom | Cross River State |
Ikwerre | Rivers State |
Irigwe | Plateau State |
Isoko | Delta State, Bayelsa State |
Isekiri (Itsekiri) | Delta State |
Iyala (Iyalla) | Cross River State |
Izon (Ijaw) | Bayelsa State, Delta State, Edo State, Ondo State, Rivers State |
Jahuna (Jahunawa) | Taraba State |
Jaku | Bauchi State |
Jara (Jaar Jarawa Jarawa-Dutse) | Bauchi State |
Jere (Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa) | Bauchi State, Plateau State |
Jero | Taraba State |
Jibu | |
Jidda-Abu | Adamawa State |
Jimbin (Jimbinawa) | Plateau State |
Bauchi State | |
Jirai | Adamawa State |
Joinkrama | Rivers State |
Jonjo (Jenjo) | Taraba State |
Jukun | Bauchi State, Benue State, Taraba State, Plateau State, |
Kaba(Kabawa) | |
Taraba State | |
Kadara | Kaduna State, Niger State |
Kafanchan | Kaduna State |
Kalabari | Rivers State |
Kagoro | Kaduna State |
Kaje (Kache) | Kaduna State |
Kajuru (Kajurawa) | Kaduna State |
Kaka | Adamawa State |
Kamaku (Karnukawa) | Kaduna State, Niger State, Kebbi State. |
Kambari | Kebbi State, Niger State |
Kambu | Adamawa State |
Kamwe | Adamawa State and Borno State (Republic of Cameroon) |
Kanakuru (Dera) | Adamawa State, Borno State |
Kanembu | Borno State |
Kanikon | Kaduna State |
Kantana | Plateau State |
Kanuri | Adamawa State, Taraba State, Borno State, Yobe State |
Karekare (Karaikarai) | Bauchi State, Yobe State |
Karimjo | Taraba State |
Kariya | Bauchi State |
Katab (Kataf) | Kaduna State |
Ke | Rivers State |
Kenern (Koenoem) | Plateau State |
Kenton | Taraba State |
Kiballo (Kiwollo) | Kaduna State |
Kilba | Adamawa State |
Kirfi (Kirfawa) | Bauchi State |
Kodei | Taraba State |
Kona | Taraba State |
Koro (Kwaro) | Kaduna State, Niger State |
Kubi (Kubawa) | Bauchi State |
Kudachano (Kudawa) | Bauchi State |
Kugama | Taraba State |
Kugbo | Rivers State |
Kulere (Kaler) | Plateau State |
Kunini | Taraba State |
Kurama | Kaduna State |
Kurdul | Adamawa State |
Kushi | Bauchi State |
Kuteb | Taraba State |
Kutin | Taraba State |
Kwalla | Plateau State |
Kwami (Kwom) | Bauchi State |
Kwanchi | Taraba State |
Kadung | Bauchi State, Plateau State |
Kwaro | Plateau State |
Kwato | Plateau State |
Kyenga (Kengawa) | Kebbi State |
Laaru (Larawa) | Niger State |
Lakka | Adamawa State |
Lala | Adamawa State |
Lama | Taraba State |
Lamja | Taraba State |
Lau | Taraba State |
Limono | Bauchi State, Plateau State |
Lopa (Lupa, Lopawa) | Niger State |
Longuda (Lunguda) | Adamawa State, Bauchi State |
Mabo | Plateau State |
Mada | Kaduna State, Plateau State |
Mama | Plateau State |
Mambilla | Adamawa State |
Manchok | Kaduna State |
Mandara (Wandala) | Borno State |
Manga (Mangawa) | Yobe State |
Margi (Marghi) | Adamawa State, Borno State |
Maffa | Adamawa State, Borno State |
Mbembe | Cross River State, Enugu State |
Mbol | Adamawa State |
Mbube | Cross River State |
Mbula | Adamawa State |
Mbum | Taraba State |
Memyang (Meryan) | Plateau State |
Miango | Plateau State |
Miligili (Migili) | Plateau State |
Miya (Miyawa) | Bauchi State |
Mobber | Borno State |
Montol | Plateau State |
Moruwa (Moro’a, Morwa) | Kaduna State |
Muchaila | Adamawa State |
Mumuye | |
Taraba State | |
Mundang | Adamawa State |
Munga (Lelau) | Taraba State |
Munga (Mupang) | Plateau State |
Mupun | Plateau State |
Mushere | Plateau State |
Mwahavul (Mwaghavul) | Plateau State |
Ndoro | Taraba State |
Ngas | Plateau State |
Ngizim | Yobe State |
Ngweshe (Ndhang.Ngoshe-Ndhang) | Adamawa State, Borno State |
Nyam | Taraba State |
Nyiffon | Benue State |
Ningi (Ningawa) | Bauchi State |
Ninzam (Ninzo) | Kaduna State, Plateau State |
Njayi | Adamawa State |
Nkim | Cross River State |
Nkum | Cross River State |
Nokere (Nakere) | Plateau State |
Nunku | Kaduna State, Plateau State |
Nupe | Kogi State, Kwara State, Niger State |
Nyandang | Taraba State |
Obolo | Rivers State, Akwa Ibom |
Ododop | Cross River |
Ogori | Kogi State |
Ogoni | Akwa Ibom State, Rivers State |
Ogba | Rivers State |
Okobo (Okkobor) | Akwa Ibom State |
Okirika | Rivers State |
Okpamheri | Edo State |
Okpe | Edo State |
Olulumo | Delta State |
Olukumi | Delta State |
Oron | Akwa Ibom State |
Owan | Edo State |
Owe | Kogi State |
Oworo | Kogi State |
Pa’a (Pa’awa Afawa) | Bauchi State |
Pai | Plateau State |
Panyam | Taraba State |
Pero | Bauchi State |
Pire | Adamawa State |
Pkanzom | Taraba State |
Poll | Taraba State |
Polchi Habe | Bauchi State |
Pongo (Pongu) | Niger State |
Potopo | Taraba State |
Pyapun (Piapung) | Plateau State |
Qua | Cross River State |
Rebina (Rebinawa) | Bauchi State |
Reshe | Kebbi State, Niger State |
Rindire (Rendre) | Plateau State |
Rishuwa | Kaduna State |
Ron | Plateau State |
Rubu | Niger State |
Rukuba | Plateau State |
Rumada | Kaduna State |
Rumaya | Kaduna State |
Sakbe | Taraba State |
Sanga | Bauchi State |
Sate | Taraba State |
Saya (Sayawa Za’ar) | Bauchi State, Kaduna State, Plateau State |
Segidi (Sigidawa) | Bauchi State |
Shanga (Shangawa) | Kebbi State |
Shangawa (ShanKadunagau) | Plateau State |
Shan-Shan | Plateau State |
Shira (Shira ) | Bauchi State |
Shomo | Taraba State |
Shuwa | Adamawa State, Borno State, Kaduna State, Yobe State |
Sikdi | Plateau State |
Siri (Sirawa) | Bauchi State |
Srubu (Surubu) | Kaduna State |
Sukur | Adamawa State |
Sura | Plateau State |
Tangale | Gombe State |
Tarok | Plateau State, Taraba State |
Teme | Adamawa State |
Tera (Terawa) | Bauchi State, Borno State |
Teshena (Teshenawa) | Kano State |
Tigon | Taraba State |
Tikar | Taraba State |
Tiv | Benue State, FCT, Nasssarawa State, Niger State, Plateau State, Taraba State |
Tula | Gombe State |
Tur | Adamawa State |
Ubbo | Adamawa State |
Udekeama | Rivers State |
Ufia | Benue State |
Ukelle | Cross River State |
Ukwani (Kwale) | Delta State |
Uncinda | Kaduna State, Kebbi State, Niger State, |
Uneme (Ineme) | Edo State |
Ura (Ula) | Niger State |
Urhobo | Delta State, Bayelsa State. |
Utonkong | Benue State |
Uyanga | Cross River State |
Vemgo | Adamawa State |
Verre | Adamawa State |
Vommi | Taraba State |
Wagga | Adamawa State |
Waja | Bauchi State |
Waka | Taraba State |
Warja (Warja) | Bauchi State |
Warji | Bauchi State |
Wurbo | Adamawa State |
Wurkun | Taraba State |
Yache | Cross River State |
Yagba | Kogi State |
Yakurr (Yako) | Cross River State |
Yalla | Benue State |
Yandang | Adamawa State, Taraba State |
Yergan (Yergum) | Plateau State |
Yoruba | Ekiti State, Kogi State, Kwara State, Lagos State, Ogun State, Ondo State, Osun State, Oyo State |
Yott | Taraba State |
Yumu | Niger State |
Yungur | Adamawa State |
Yuom | Plateau State |
Zabara | Niger State |
Zaranda | Bauchi State |
Zarma (Zarmawa) | Kebbi State |
Zayam (Zeam) | Bauchi State |
Zul (Zulawa) | Bauchi State |
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