TIV PEOPLE OF WEST AFRICA

Tiv (or Tivi) is one of the ethno-linguistic groups in Nigeria and West Africa. The group constitutes approximately 3.5% of Nigeria’s total population, and number about 6.5 million individuals throughout Nigeria and Cameroon.

LANGUAGE

The Tiv/Tivoid language is spoken by about 7 million people in Nigeria with a few speakers in Cameroon. Other languages spoken by the people are English, French and Hausa.

LOCATION

The people are majorly found in Benue State. They are also found in Taraba, Nassarawa, Plateau, Adamawa and Kaduna States in Nigeria. Few are also found in the West African country of Cameroon.

RELIGION

The Tiv people are predominantly Christians. Some practices Tiv Traditional religion while few are Muslims.

BRIEF HISTORY

The Tiv are said to have emerged into their present location from the Southeast. It is claimed that the Tiv wandered through Southern, South-Central and West-Central Africa before arriving at the savannah lands of West African Sudan through the River Congo and Cameroon Mountains.

The Tiv came into contact with European culture during the colonial period. The Europeans brought gifts for the tribal chiefs. Subsequently, roads made and trade links established between Europeans and the Tiv. But before construction of roads began, a missionary named Mary Slessor (also stopped the killing of twins in Calabar) went throughout the region seeing to the people’s needs.

DRESSING

The main dressing of the Tiv people is a native attire called ‘Anger’. It is black-and-white attire. The black-and-white came as a result of their hunt for zebra for its skin and meat. They discovered it (zebra) was not native to the area so when they acquired the skill of loom, they decided to honour their heritage. The people weave a cloth with black and white in just like the zebra. Initially, the ‘Anger’ was a simple cloth to be draped around the torso. Nowadays, it is made into elaborate robes that are worn by the traditional rulers and elders. Black-and-white necklaces are also worn by the traditional rulers to match the robes.

MUSIC AND COMMUNICATION

The Tiv people are rich in music. Tiv people have many locally made instruments which are traditionally used for political and ceremonial communications. The instruments used are; Kakaki (a royal trumpet), Ilyu (a light wooden instrument used to pass messages especially during weddings), Indyer (a heavy wooden instrument used to communicate the death of an important person or serious occurrence), Adigwe (a violin), Akya (drum), Gbande and Kolugh Ku Bua (cow horn).

NOTABLE PEOPLE

There are several notable people in politics, law enforcement and sports that have contributed to the growth of Nigeria. These includes; Joseph Tarka, Barnabas Gemade, Iyorchia Ayu, A.I Katsina-Alu, Farida Waziri, John Mark Inienger, Dominic Iorfa, Francisca Ordega, Fernando Adi, Terna Nande and so on.