Author: Tolu

A significant feature in Nigerian music is agogo (bell). A single or multiple bells that is also used throughout the world. It is part of the Samba baterias (percussion ensembles) and has its origins in traditional Yoruba music. The Yoruba people cannot do without the bell in their traditional music as well as contemporary music such as juju, popularized by King Sunny Ade, Fuji by Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, and so on. Agogo is a percussion instrument which is been struck with a wooden stick. It is the oldest samba instrument and also has the highest pitch of any bateria instruments.…

One of Nigeria’s finest airlines is Air Peace. It is a private airline with its headquarters in Lagos State, Nigeria. The airline was founded in 2013 and has now grown to become one of Nigeria’s biggest providers of passenger and charter services. It serves the major cities of Nigeria with a total of 17 destinations as of 2019. The CEO of Air Peace is Allen Onyema. The airline slogan is ‘’your peace, our goal’’, which is written on its air planes. OWNERSHIP There have been speculations regarding the owner of this airline. Former first lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience, has…

One of the biggest carnivals in Africa is the Calabar Carnival Festival in Cross River State, Nigeria. This carnival is tagged ‘’Africa’s Biggest Street Party’’ as it brings participants from all over the world to Calabar, Cross River State. The Calabar Carnival Festival started in 2004 during the administration of governor Donald Duke. It was the vision of the governor to make the state a hub for tourism and hospitality in Nigeria and Africa. The festival has come a long way since then. Cross River State has become the pride of Nigeria in the areas of tourism, carnivals and hospitality.…

Kunu is a drink that is native to Northern Nigeria. It is also called Kunu Zaki or Kununzaki. This drink has similarities with locally made milk; both are majorly produced in the Northern part of Nigeria and have the same look. Milk is produced from an animal source (goat, sheep and cow) while kunu is made from plant source (grains). The scorching sun of this region makes kunu a sought after drink as it is consumed when thirsty. This creamy delight is a must-drink for people of all ages and traditions. Kunu can be made from tiger nuts, millet, corn,…

Located in the Northwestern part of Nigeria is Kebbi State. It is one of the places you should consider visiting for your next vacation. Nicknamed ‘Land of Equity’, it was created out of a part of Sokoto State in 1991. The state capital is Birnin Kebbi. Kebbi State has Sokoto, Niger, and Zamfara States as borders. It also has the Dosso Region in the Republic of Niger and the nation of Benin as International borders. Kebbi State has 27 Local Government Areas with many tourist sites. The Local Government Areas are Aleiro, Arewa Dandi, Argungu, Augie, Bagudo, Birnin Kebbi, Banza,…

The authorities of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Ilorin, Kwara State of Nigeria have begun lobbying the National Universities Commission (NUC) for an increase in their existing admission quota. The institution has initially pegged 10,900 as the number of candidates to be admitted to the prestigious University. This move was as a result of the huge number of admission seekers, particularly into the university. Unilorin has become one of the most subscribed institutions of learning in the country. It is one of the few tertiary institutions that haven’t been hit with incessant strikes in recent years. The University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof…

One of Nigeria’s top Northern foods is Masa. It is a shaped rice cake and it is common in the Northern territories of Kaduna, Borno, Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, and Jigawa and so on. Rice is the main ingredient for this snack and it is widely cultivated in Northern Nigeria. The Hausa and Fulani people are predominantly farmers, so their agricultural products are prepared in style as food. Apart from Tuwo Shinkafa, which is a major food by the people, masa is another tasty meal that is made from the same grain (rice). It may take a long time to…

One of Nigeria’s finest and fabulous traditional wear is Aso-Oke. It is a hand-loomed cloth woven by the Yoruba people of South-West Nigeria. It is a fabric used by the high class in society. This fabric is also referred to as Ofi or Alai in some parts of Yoruba land. Aso-Oke can be translated as ‘Top Cloth’ in English making it a wear for top occasions, such as Chieftaincy, wedding, naming and other top ceremonies. The fabric has some distinct color and can also be multi-colored. The fabric is always very heavy and it’s a perfect material for the cold…

One of the major airlines plying Nigerian Airports is Aero Contractors. It can also be simply called Aero. It is a state-controlled Nigerian airline company which has its headquarters at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. The airline operates helicopter services and fixed domestic and international scheduled passenger services, air charter and third party aircraft operations. This is largely in support of Nigeria’s extensive oil and gas industry. Aero Contractors was founded in 1959 and it recently celebrated its 60 years of existence. The company slogan, which is written on its aircraft, is ‘The reliable way to fly.’’…

Bayero University Kano (BUK) during its 35th convocation ceremony scheduled to hold between the 10th and 15th June 2019 is set to have 105 first class graduands from its first-degree graduands. 6,174 first degree graduands are part of the total 9,751 that will partake in the convocation ceremony. The university Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Muhammad Yahuza Bello breaks down the number while addressing reporters in his office. He said the total 9,751 is made up of 6,174 first degree graduands, 107 Ph.D. graduands, 2,269 Masters Degree graduands and 1,039 Post-graduate diploma degree graduands. Prof. Bello also pointed out that there was an…

Apart from the Tivs and the Idomas, the Igede people are also a large ethnic group in Benue State. The people are found in two Local Government Areas of the state which are Oju and Obi Local Government Areas. The total population of the people is over 2 million which are dispersed across the state and the nation. Apart from Benue State which is their home, they are also found in parts of Cross River, Osun, and Ogun States. Igede is the main language spoken and they are also related to other ethnic groups such as Tiv, Idoma, and Etulo.…

TGIF is simply an abbreviation for ‘Thank God it’s Friday’; a cliché well known all over the world. Friday is the fifth working day for workers especially for those in offices. TGIF comes with hashtags on social media platforms such as Twitter. There are also phrases coined for Friday such as ‘Fri-yay’; a word used to mark the excitement of the day. All these words are used by people all over the world to relax and free themselves of the busy schedules of the week. It is a day where hustlers too, especially the fun-lovers, set aside to chill and…

The Awori Tribe is a sub-group of the Yoruba ethnic group of Nigeria. They speak a distinct dialect of the Yoruba language. The people are traditionally found in Ogun and Lagos States of Nigeria. Major cities and towns where they are found include Isheri, Ota, Igbesa, Ilobi, Tigbo, Iddo, Idumota, Badagry and so on. ORIGIN The people originate from Ile-Ife just like every other Yoruba people. It was said that Oduduwa (founder of the Yorubas) gave Olofin, also known as, Ogunfunminire (founder of the Awori) a mud plate and instructed him to place it on the water and follow it…

The Vegetarian is a three-part novel written by South Korean author Han Kang. It was based on an earlier written short story by the author in 1997 titled ‘’The Fruit of My Woman’’. The book was originally written in Korean language and then translated into the English language by Deborah Smith. This book was first published in 2007 by Changbi Publishers (South Korea) and Portobello Books (UK). The 160 pages has since been translated to at least thirteen languages, including French, Chinese, and Spanish. The Vegetarian is Han’s second book to be translated into English. It received international critical acclaim,…

Kuli-Kuli is one popular snack that is native to Northern Nigeria. It is made from dry roasted groundnuts/peanuts. It is a crunchy snack that you won’t desist from tasting after a try. This snack along with cassava flakes (garri) has been very good to Nigerians especially students in boarding schools and tertiary institutions. Kuli-Kuli serves as an appetizer for some people. It is probably the most consumed locally made snack in Nigeria. Apart from Northern Nigeria where it is majorly made, it is also made by the Southerners. This snack comes in different shapes (you mold into any shape of…

One of the most colorful and famous festivals celebrated in Northern Nigeria is the Durbar Festival. It is an annual festival that marks the end of Ramadan and is also shared with Eid-El-Kabir and Eid-El-Fitri Muslim holidays. Durbar comes from Urdu ‘Darbar’ with ‘dar’ meaning door and ‘bar’ meaning entry or audience. The festival is always a colorful display of culture and full of pomp and pageantry. It is a royal parade of thousands of men and horses adorned with garments and regalia. It is also a spectacular concert and bazaar of African music (Northern musical instruments such as the…

Niger State is a place for tourists especially for its number of tourist centers. Apart from having an almost similar name as Nigeria, Niger State is one of Nigeria’s greatest territories. The state is named after the River Niger and the capital city is Minna. Two of Nigeria’s major hydroelectric power stations, the Kainji Dam and the Shiroro Dam are located in the state. Suleja, a major city in Niger State is the closest city to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. In fact, the popular Zuma rock seen in the FCT is located in Niger State. The state also shares…

The Ikwerre people belong to one of the many ethnic groups in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The people are related to the Igbo ethnic group.

The Palm-Wine Drinkard (subtitled ‘and His Dead Palm-Wine Tapster in the Dead Town’) is a novel written by Nigerian author Amos Tutuola. The book was published in the UK in 1952 and the United States in 1953. It is a novel set in Nigeria in the timeless folkloric past. It is the first African novel published outside of Africa, this quest tale, based on Yoruba folktales, is written in a modified Yoruba English or Pidgin English. The book was published by Faber and Faber in the United Kingdom and Grove Press in the United States. It is a 125-page story…

Nigerians are always a step ahead of their counterparts in whatever they do. The people have always stood out in their endeavors. The lifestyles of the Nigerian people who are located in West Africa are worth sharing. Nigeria, a country with diverse culture, religion, language, and so on, has yet been united against all odds. You’ll surely see the people pulling stunts wherever they are found. Those found in the football viewing centers should be referred to as ‘Football-Mania’. Nigerians are followers of European football leagues, especially the Barclays English Premier League. Few Nigerians see the home-based teams in Nigerian…

Beads are an important part of Nigerian traditional attire. It is one of the major accessories adorned by kings, chiefs, men and women of different ethnic groups. Beads are used everywhere in the world but the African-made beads stand out. The word bead is coined from an old-German language meaning ‘to pray,’ and is used for several purposes. They are used for religious purposes (in rosaries used by Catholics for praying), to adorn the body, and to make other materials such as shoes, belts and so on. Many Nigerian ladies cannot do without beads in their dressing (waist beads, neck…