Frugaltesting: Updated formatting and improved readability

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Updated formatting and improved readability

WikiDwarf: Created page with "{{Short description|Nigerian people}} {{About-distinguish2|the people of Nigeria|Nigerien, those from Niger}} {{For|a specific analysis of the po..."

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Created page with "{{Short description|Nigerian people}} {{About-distinguish2|the people of Nigeria|Nigerien, those from Niger}} {{For|a specific analysis of the po..."

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{{Short description|Nigerian people}}
{{About-distinguish2|the people of Nigeria|[[Demographics of Niger|Nigerien]], those from [[Niger]]}}
{{For|a specific analysis of the population of Nigeria|Demographics of Nigeria}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Nigerians
| flag = [[File:Flag of Nigeria.svg|border|300px]]
| flag_caption = [[Flag of Nigeria|National Flag of Nigeria]]
| image = [[File:Nigerian people around the world.svg|center|frameless|260x260px]]
| image_caption = Nigerian diaspora
| poptime =
| region1 = {{flag|Nigeria}}
| pop1 = 203,452,505 (April 2019 est.)
| ref1 = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nigeria/|title=The World Factbook|access-date=November 17, 2018}}</ref>
| region2 = {{flag|Benin}}
| pop2 = 6,000,000
| ref2 = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://sunnewsonline.com/new/features/exclusive-as-benin-republic-clocks-63-over-6m-nigerians-live-in-former-dahomey-200-in-jails-but-amb-obisakin-says-nigeria-is-a-power-here-theres-no-doubt-about-it/|title=EXCLUSIVE: As Benin Republic clocks 53: Over 6m Nigerians live in former Dahomey, 200 in jails but Amb Obisakin says 'Nigeria is a power here, there's no doubt about it'|work=sunnewsonline.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012012441/http://sunnewsonline.com/new/features/exclusive-as-benin-republic-clocks-63-over-6m-nigerians-live-in-former-dahomey-200-in-jails-but-amb-obisakin-says-nigeria-is-a-power-here-theres-no-doubt-about-it/|archive-date=2013-10-12}}</ref>
| region3 = {{flag|Cameroon}}
| pop3 = 4,000,000
| ref3 = <ref>Mark D. DeLancey, Rebecca Neh Mbuh. Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cameroon. Scarecrow Press, 2010. p. 283.</ref>
| region4 = {{flag|Ghana}}
| pop4 = 1,000,000
| ref4 = <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/ghana/090601/nigerian-ghana-fight-reputation | title=Nigerians fight bad reps in Ghana | date=30 May 2010 | access-date=6 January 2016 | author=Maguire, Ken}}</ref>
| region5 = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| pop5 = 1,000,000
| ref5 = <ref>Dolapo Ajakaiye. Searching Greener Pastures. p. 77. (based on British Home Office report)</ref>
| region6 = {{flag|United States}}
| pop6 = 380,875
| ref6 = <ref>Ulrich Beck, Natan Sznaider, Rainer Winter. Global America?: The Cultural Consequences of Globalization. p. 216.</ref>
| region7 = {{flag|Colombia}}
| pop7 = 200,000<ref name="auto"/>
| region9 = {{flag|Italy}}
| pop9 = 106.069
| ref9 = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.istat.it/it/files//2018/06/bilanciodemografico2018.pdf|title=BILANCIO DEMOGRAFICO NAZIONALE|publisher=Directorate for social statistics and population census Istat – National Institute of Statistics|page=10}}</ref>
| region10 = {{flag|Brazil}}
| pop10 = 90,000 - 100,000
| ref10 = <ref>[http://news.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=6764 Brazil grants Amnesty To 2000 Nigerians]</ref>{{better source needed|reason=Dead link|date=March 2021}}
| region11 = {{flag|Argentina}}
| pop11 = 90,000<ref name="auto"/>
| region12 = {{flag|Chad}}
| pop12 = 88,000
| ref12 = <ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|title=Fulani, Nigerian {{!}} Joshua Project|url=https://www.joshuaproject.net/people_groups/10949|access-date=2020-08-07|website=www.joshuaproject.net}}</ref>
| region13 = {{flag|Central African Republic}}
| pop13 = 60,000
| ref13 = <ref name="auto1"/>
| region14 = {{flag|Chile}}
| pop14 = 60,000<ref name="auto"/>
| region15 = {{flag|Germany}}
| pop15 = 56,420
| ref15 = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://de.statista.com/statistik/kategorien/kategorie/8/themen/63/branche/demographie/|title=Demographie|first=Bild: istockphoto com /|last=mevans|website=Statista}}</ref>
| region16 = {{flag|Mexico}}
| pop16 = 50,000<ref name="auto"/>
| region17 = {{flag|Spain}}
| pop17 = 29,000
| ref17 = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/data-hub/charts/immigrant-and-emigrant-populations-country-origin-and-destination|title=Immigrant and Emigrant Populations by Country of Origin and Destination|date=February 10, 2014|website=migrationpolicy.org}}</ref>
| region18 = {{flag|South Africa}}
| pop18 = 24,000+
| ref18 = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.migration.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Nigerians-in-South-Africa-Facts-and-Figures.-Issue-Brief-8a.pdf |title=Nigerians in South Africa |publisher=www.migration.org.za |date=2017 |access-date=2020-04-28}}</ref>
| region19 = {{flag|Canada}}
| pop19 = 51,835
| ref19 = <ref>{{cite web |title=Ethnic origin population |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=PR&Code1=01&Geo2=PR&Code2=01&SearchText=Canada&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=Ethnic%20origin&TABID=1&type=0 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |publisher=Statistics Canada |access-date=18 September 2019}}</ref>
| region20 = {{flag|Ireland}}
| pop20 = 16,300
| ref20 = <ref name="ICI2008">{{harvnb|McFadyen|2008|p=55}}</ref>
| region21 = {{flag|Netherlands}}
| pop21 = 8,000
| ref21 = <ref name="auto"/>
| region22 = {{flag|Austria}}
| pop22 = 7,025
| ref22 = <ref name="migrationinformation.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.statistik.at/web_de/statistiken/bevoelkerung/bevoelkerungsstruktur/bevoelkerung_nach_staatsangehoerigkeit_geburtsland/|title=Bevölkerung nach Staatsangehörigkeit und Geburtsland|publisher=Statistik Austria|access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref>
| region23 = {{flag|Australia}}
| pop23 = 4,519
| ref23 = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/statistics/comm-summ/_pdf/nigeria.pdf|title=Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection|work=immi.gov.au|access-date=2013-10-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012061628/http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/statistics/comm-summ/_pdf/nigeria.pdf|archive-date=2013-10-12|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| region24 = {{flag|Greece}}
| pop24 = 3,000
| ref24 = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.athensnews.gr/athweb/nathens.print_unique?e=C&f=12905&m=A13&aa=1&eidos=A |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212164639/http://www.athensnews.gr/athweb/nathens.print_unique?e=C&f=12905&m=A13&aa=1&eidos=A |archive-date=2009-02-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| region25 = {{flag|Japan}}
| pop25 = 3,000
| ref25 = <ref name="auto"/>
| region26 = {{flag|Hungary}}
| pop26 = 2,000
| ref26 = <ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/data-hub/charts/immigrant-and-emigrant-populations-country-origin-and-destination|title=Immigrant and Emigrant Populations by Country of Origin and Destination|date=February 10, 2014|website=migrationpolicy.org}}</ref>
| region27 = {{flag|Norway}}
| pop27 = 1,780
| ref27 = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/befolkning/statistikker/innvbef/aar/2013-04-25?fane=tabell&sort=nummer&tabell=109859|title=Innvandrere og norskfødte med innvandrerforeldre - Tabeller - SSB|access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref>
| region28 = {{flag|Belgium}}
| pop28 = 1,636
| ref28 = <ref name="migrationinformation.org"/>
| region29 = {{flag|France}}
| pop29 = 1,425
| ref29 = <ref name="migrationinformation.org"/>
| langs = [[English language|English]], regional languages
| rels = [[Islam]], [[Christianity]], traditional religion
}}

'''Nigerians''' or the '''Nigerian people''', are citizens of [[Nigeria]] or people with ancestry from Nigeria.<ref name="Gordon (2003), 233">{{cite book|series=Ethnic diversity within nations|year=2003|publisher=ABC-CLIO, Inc.|location=Santa Barbara, California, USA|isbn=1576076822|page=233|first=April A.|last=Gordon|title=Nigeria's diverse peoples: a reference sourcebook}}</ref> Nigeria is composed of various ethnic groups and cultures and the term Nigerian refers to a [[citizenship]]-based civic [[nationality]].<ref name="Gordon (2003), 233"/> Nigerians derive from over 250 ethnic groups and languages.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 4">Toyin Falola. ''Culture and Customs of Nigeria''. Westport, Connecticut, USA: Greenwood Press, 2001. p. 4.</ref> Though there are multiple ethnic groups in Nigeria, economic factors result in significant mobility of Nigerians of multiple ethnic and religious backgrounds to reside in territories in Nigeria that are outside their ethnic or religious background, resulting in the mixing of the various ethnic and religious groups, especially in Nigeria's cities.<ref name="Toyin Fall 2001. pp. 8">Toyin Falola. ''Culture and Customs of Nigeria''. Westport, Connecticut, USA: Greenwood Press, 2001. p. 8.</ref> The [[English language]] is the ''[[lingua franca]]'' of Nigerians.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 233">April A. Gordon. ''Nigeria's Diverse Peoples: A Reference Sourcebook''. Santa Barbara, California, USA: ABC-CLIO, 2003. p. 233.</ref> 56% of Nigerians are [[Islam|Muslims]] and about 44% are [[Christianity|Christians]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nigeria/|title=The World Factbook|website=Central Intelligence Agency|access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref> Considering the ever increase in the population of the country, it is now believed that the two major religions (Islam and Christianity) will soon be contending for figure supremacy in years to come.

== Ethnicity ==
{{See also|List of ethnic groups in Nigeria}}
Nigerians come from many different ethnic and religious backgrounds as the founding of Nigeria was the outcome of a colonial creation by the [[British Empire]].<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 233"/>

== History ==
{{Further|History of Nigeria}}
There have been several major historical states in Nigeria that have influenced Nigerian society via their kings and their legal and taxation systems, and the use of religion to legitimize the power of the king and to unite the people.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 15-16">Toyin Falola. ''Culture and Customs of Nigeria''. Westport, Connecticut, USA: Greenwood Press, 2001. pp. 15-16.</ref> Northern Nigeria has been culturally influenced by Islamic influence including several major historic Islamic states in the region.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 15-16"/> The [[Kanem-Bornu Empire]] and the [[Sokoto Caliphate]] were major historical Islamic states in northern Nigeria.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 15-16"/> Southern Nigeria historically held several powerful states, including the [[Benin Empire]] and [[Oyo Empire]], Ife Confederacy and several other Yoruba states.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 15-16"/>

== Culture ==
Nigerian culture was profoundly affected by the British [[Colonialism|colonial rule]].<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 18">Toyin Falola. ''Culture and Customs of Nigeria''. Westport, Connecticut, USA: Greenwood Press, 2001. p. 18.</ref> Such as British colonial authorities' denouncements and attacks upon [[polygamy]], trial by ordeal, and certain types of sacrifices.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 18"/> At the same time, British colonial authorities maintained and promoted traditional Nigerian culture that strengthened colonial administration.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 18"/> The British spread Christianity throughout southern Nigeria and Christian missionaries assisted British authorities in establishing a [[Western world|Western]]-style education system in Nigeria that resulted in the teaching of the English language in Nigeria and its subsequent adoption as Nigeria's main language.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 18"/> The British replaced unpaid household labour with [[wage labour]].<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 18"/> Prior to colonization in the twentieth century, Nigeria's tribes usually [[Land tenure|possessed the land]] as a community, such that land could not be bought or sold.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 4" /> Colonization brought the notion of individuals owning land and commercialization of land began.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 4" />

<gallery heights="132" mode="packed">
File:Hausawomen.jpg|Hausa Fulani Nigerian women, wearing traditional clothing
File:Inside the Palms1.jpg|Nigerians shopping in a mall in [[Lagos]]
File:Kwarastatedrummers.jpg|Yoruba Nigerian men of [[Kwara State|Kwara]] origin, wearing traditional clothing and playing drums
File:Durbar.jpg|Horseman at the [[Durbar festival|Kano Durbar festival]]
File:Igbo hat and Isiagu.jpg|Igbo Nigerian men, wearing the modern [[Isiagu]] with traditional Igbo men's hat
File:IGBO CULTURAL ATTIRE.jpg|An [[Igbo people|Igbo]] man in his cultural attire
File:Eyo Iga Jump.jpg|An Eyo Iga Olowe Salaye masquerade jumping
File:LocationNigeria.png|Map of west Africa, showing Nigeria in dark green
File:View of Lokoja city from mountain Patti, Lokoja.jpg|A view of lokoja on top of hill [[Mount Patti]]. Kogi state
</gallery>

In Nigeria, more than seventy percent of Nigerians live in villages of two different types: the first type used by the Igbo and Tiv involves a collection of dispersed compounds, the second type used amongst the Hausa fulani, Yoruba, and Kanuri involves nucleii of compounds.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 6">Toyin Falola. ''Culture and Customs of Nigeria''. Westport, Connecticut, USA: Greenwood Press, 2001. p. 6.</ref> These villages compose members of the ethnicity-related through ancestry as well as strangers who have been assimilated into the ethnicity.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 6" /> Since the time prior to colonization to the present it has been common practice of Nigeria's tribes to adopt strangers into the tribes.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 4" /> A male elder commonly serves as a village chief.<ref name="Toyin Falola 2001. pp. 6" />

In the large cities of Nigeria, there is substantial [[intermingling]] of Nigerians with foreigners, especially Europeans, [[Lebanese people|Lebanese]], and [[Indian people|Indians]].<ref name="Toyin Fall 2001. pp. 8" /> The economic importance of Nigeria's cities has resulted in migrations of people from their traditional ethnic or cultural homeland to cities outside those territories.<ref name="Toyin Fall 2001. pp. 8" /> Igbo, Hausa Fulani and Ibibio people have commonly migrated to [[Lagos]] and many southerners migrate to the north to trade or work while a number of northerner seasonal workers and small-scale entrepreneurs go to the south.<ref name="Toyin Fall 2001. pp. 8" />

== Religion ==
{{Further|Religion in Nigeria}}

* [[Islam|Muslim]] 53.5%<ref name=":0" />
* [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] 11.2%<ref name=":0" />
* Other [[Christianity|Christian]] 34.7%<ref name=":0" />
* Traditionalist 5.9%<ref name=":0" />
* Unspecified 0.5%<ref name=":0" />

== Sectarianism ==
Ethnic, religious, and regional disputes and tensions have commonly divided Nigerians on political issues.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 111">April A. Gordon. ''Nigeria's Diverse Peoples: A Reference Sourcebook''. Santa Barbara, California, USA: ABC-CLIO, 2003. p. 111.</ref> In particular, cultural and political divisions between the [[Islam|Muslim]] north and the [[Christianity|Christian]] south has politicized religion and caused significant political disputes in Nigeria.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 111" /> Ethnic-motivated and religious-motivated violence by extremists has increased these tensions as well.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 233" />

However, despite instances of extremism, most Nigerians continue to peacefully coexist, and a common Nigerian identity has been fostered amongst the more-educated and affluent Nigerians as well as with the many Nigerians who leave small homogeneous ethnic communities to seek economic opportunities in the cities where the population is ethnically mixed.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 233" /> Although there are cultural divisions amongst Nigerians, the English language is commonly used as their primary language.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 233" /> Also, most Nigerians share a strong commitment to individual liberties and democracy.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 233" /> Even during periods of military rule, such military governments were pressured to maintain democratic stances by the Nigerian people.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 233" /> Nigeria's political figures commonly know multiple indigenous languages outside their own indigenous language.<ref name="April A. Gordon 2003. pp. 233" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|People of Nigeria}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Nigerian people| ]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Nigeria]]

Nigerians - Revision history

Frugaltesting: Updated formatting and improved readability

WikiDwarf: Created page with "{{Short description|Nigerian people}} {{About-distinguish2|the people of Nigeria|Nigerien, those from Niger}} {{For|a specific analysis of the po..."