Cultural Diversity in Nigeria: A Blessing or a Curse?

 

Cultural diversity is really a phrase generally found in describing a society with individuals of different ethnic roots which manifest inside their languages, mode of dressing, arts, and also other traditional practices that are either similar or distinctively not the same as each group. Such traditional practices are highly valued and held with great admiration among people of your ethnic group. In Nigeria as an example, when it comes to dressing a core northerner is identified with a starchy ironed fez being a cap. In the western part of Nigeria that is dominated by Yoruba ethnic group, people generally sew their cap inside a long style that is neatly folded when worn around the head. Alternatively, within the eastern side of the united states the Ibo are know for red cap that is traditional worn (but mostly) by title holders. Other minority ethnic groups within the middle belt region like the Tiv, Ngas, Idoma, Nupe, etc, also provide unique cultural attributes which help in recognizing their cultural roots when appeared inside the public. As an example, the Tiv people in Nigeria are widely known for a'nger, a distinctive traditional costume (fabric), lineally attached to monochrome features, which can be generally worn by Tiv people to identify with their cultural origin. - Free listing in Nigeria

The picture created above is a cultural mosaic or congress of cultures consensually surviving in one community called Nigeria. However, to convey how culturally diversified Nigeria is, there is certainly must have mental cross-section of Kaduna state which includes, through the years, remained a unifying point for varying cultures.

Kaduna state is an epitome of the highly diversified sub-political entity in Nigeria with fifteen tribes/ethnic groups. Apart from the Hausas, which dominate the northern part of the state, there are plenty of minority tribes/cultural groups settling around Kaduna state. For example, southeast the state has Kagoro, Moro'a, Jaba, Fantsuan, Kataf, Baju, Gbagi, Kagoma, Mada, Ninzam, Attakar, Fulani, Attukur, Koro etc. Each one of these tribes/ethnic groups mentioned previously have cultural attributes which are similar in reality or remarkable different from the other person. Kagoro ethnic group, as an example, set aside January 1 of each year to celebrate her people and culture. In most Kagoro Day (1st January), there are tons of cultural display: Dance, costumes, arts, etc. The event draws people from parts of the country especially children of Kagoro in addition to highly dignifying chiefs within Nigeria.

On the other hand, the disparities within the ethnic groups have existed for a long time. Even in the history of Nigeria, one may go along with the author it had become the cultural or ethnic differences which propelled polarize ideologies that made indirect rule through the colonial era to reach your goals inside the north without success in the south. Also, it was the manifestation of such differences that made the people from the southern a part of Nigeria to need for independence in 1958 when the northern representatives said they aren't ready. After independence was finally achieved in 1960, many ethnic groups show secession tendencies. A few of these secession moves by a few ethnic groups result in a full blown civil war while some were overtaken by dialogue for your achievement of peace and rise in areas concerned.

Every one of these have demostrated that Nigeria being a nation was created out of sheer colonial enforcement, to attain control of peoples as well as to maximized resources inside the carved boundary from the colonial sub-entity in Africa. This, however, made her peoples (tribes/ethnic groups) to become bounded together in 'fate'. Fate in the sense that, the differences inherent in the have given rise to so many crisis: culturally, politically, and also on socio-religious ground. Many Nigerians recognized this fact including Amodu (2008) who claims that: "We (the peoples of Nigeria) survived being a nation so when a people united by fate plus faith of God's glory of your brighter, prosperous future for the beloved and blessed country Nigeria". This means that, although fate has taken the peoples of Nigeria together, their faith in God can make them to survive from the odds bring about as a result of the differences inside the groups. But as Davis (2008) puts it: "Fate as you may know it often lies beyond our means of understanding and surfaces at only the proper moment in our lives" Hence, fate has befall us (Nigerians) with all the reality of staying/living, and together as one big family for the greater achievement from the desires our a nation.

However, staying, living as well as cooperating will not make Nigeria one, in order for there a multitude of differences that are still keeping her peoples apart. For example, religion has remained one major factor that has led to the disunity of the Nigerian peoples. Another divisive factor in Nigeria from the ethnic groups is politics. The popularity of politics is definitely divided along ethnic lines. Extremely common with an ethnic group to feel marginalized by policies of the leader who is not from the side. This way, the north don't feel safe with the leadership of the south. Likewise southerners often question the polices of a northern leader. With regards to politics, the uninformed masses are often coined or cajoled into accepting political views of the bias politicians by believing that, it ought to be someone using their ethnic group that will bring an improvement within their community.

Notwithstanding, additionally, there are common aspects of similarity generally in most of the cultures which is how the people of Nigeria possess a common origin and therefore, they are effective at understanding the other person. But a couple of things are paramount in multi-cultural or highly diversified society: Similarities and Differences. As the similarities within the cultural practices of the groups bring harmony in the society and encourage peace one of the people, the prevailing differences among these tribes/ethnic groups sometimes are negatively used by selfish minds against the unity and peace of the society. Nigerians along with people in any culturally diversified or ethnically mixed society should be able to increase opportunities by fostering "unity in diversity" instead of governing the diversity up against the unity of the various societies, for selfish purposes. - Free listing in Nigeria