Biodiversity affecting the ethnic groups of nigeria
Many of the ethnic groups in Nigeria have been mentioned in previous sections of my website, however in total, there are many more ethnic groups of Nigeria. In fact, the country has over 50 languages and 250 dialects. Although there are multiple diverse groups, there are three chief ethnic groups to three different regions of Nigeria. The Hausa-Fulani group main region is to the North, the Igbo who are mainly in the south east, and the Yoruba who are predominate in the south west. These three distinct groups are different from each other based off of their regions biodiversity.
There is a divide between these three cultures, and it doesn’t start with their beliefs, or traditions, or even religion; it starts with the Niger and Benue River which are major parts of Nigeria’s ecosystem. These two river passages create a Y shaped split in the middle of the country sectioning off the land that is claimed by that tribe.
There is a divide between these three cultures, and it doesn’t start with their beliefs, or traditions, or even religion; it starts with the Niger and Benue River which are major parts of Nigeria’s ecosystem. These two river passages create a Y shaped split in the middle of the country sectioning off the land that is claimed by that tribe.
From the map to the left you can see how the Niger River and the Benue River meet in the middle, then split apart forming a Y. This Y started the overall feeling that these tribes were separate even though they share similarities. This is just one way biodiversity has affected the culture of these three groups; it has created tension with this divide.
(Map from operationworld.org) |
Even though Nigeria is rich in biodiversity, there are three major environmental regions which are the savanna, the tropical forests, and the coastal wetlands. These regions affect the lives of the people who live there, ultimately affecting their culture. The savanna contains dry and open grasslands which makes farming a way of life for the Hausa-Fulani. They are known for their grain and cereal farming and herding. Other than the Yoruba and Igbo mainly belonging to the Christian faith, they also share a region that is wet and encloses the tropical forest of the south. This type of environment makes it perfect for farming fruits and vegetables, which is the main source of income for these ethnic tribes. Lastly, groups not mentioned called the Ijaw and Kalabari, live along the coastal wetlands. Due to a lack of dry land, these villages tend to be small. However, because they live by creeks, salt marshes, and lagoons, it makes fishing and salt trade a part of everyday life.
This is a picture of a small village by the Niger Delta. This village and this section of the river, along with the ecosystem it withholds, is in danger of disappearing due to rising sea levels and temperatures which have caused an outbreak of water born diseases threatening the natural habitat.
(Weiss, 2011) |
The regions of biodiversity have shaped the everyday life of these cultural tribes. Without the biodiversity, there would not be a major split between the three main groups in Nigeria, and people’s lifestyles would be all together different.
Reference
(2006). Nigeria. Retrieved from: http://www.everyculture.com/Ma-Ni/Nigeria.html
Weiss, L. (2011, 30 June). 12 Places To Visit Before They Disappear Forever Retrieved from: http://www.businessinsider.com/places-to-visit-before-they-disappear-2011-6?op=1
Reference
(2006). Nigeria. Retrieved from: http://www.everyculture.com/Ma-Ni/Nigeria.html
Weiss, L. (2011, 30 June). 12 Places To Visit Before They Disappear Forever Retrieved from: http://www.businessinsider.com/places-to-visit-before-they-disappear-2011-6?op=1