NIGERIA Invest in 2012-13 - Newsdesk Media

From a rich tradition of storytelling that
has produced some of the world’s most
famous writers to a fast-growing broadcast
industry, Nigeria’s vast cultural mix is coming
to the fore. Beth Holmes looks at how the
country is showcasing its cultural strengths
to growing numbers of tourists
Tourism can have a profound impact on the
society, economy and environment of a country.
It creates employment and, when developed in
a sustainable way, can help protect natural
environments and preserve historical
and archaeological monuments, while bringing to life and
safeguarding the practice of local cultures, traditions,
arts and crafts, and cuisine.
Economically, tourism helps to generate foreign
revenue that can be pumped back into the economy for
the benefit of the wider population.
As far as Nigeria is concerned, its poor record in tourism
is just one of the reasons its development lags behind many
other African nations. But with a new government in place
comes a new commitment to make Nigeria the destination of
choice for global travellers who want to experience Nigeria’s
rich culture for themselves – and what a culture it boasts.
It is shaped by the nation’s many ethnic groups. More
than 250 ethnic tribes call present-day Nigeria home. The
three largest and most dominant groups are the Hausa, who
are predominant in the north, the Yoruba, who are predominant
in the southwest and the Igbo, who are predominant in the
southeast. The Niger and Benue Rivers come together in the
centre of the country, creating a ‘Y’ that splits Nigeria into
these three separate sections and marks the boundaries of the
three major ethnic groups. Other smaller groups include the
Ijaw, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv and Edo.
From an environmental point of view, Nigeria has three
main regions: savannah, tropical forests, and coastal wetlands.
The conditions of each region have a direct correlation with
the cultures of those living in them.
The dry, open grasslands of the savannah make cereal
farming and herding a natural lifestyle choice for the Hausa.
The wet tropical forests to the south provide perfect
conditions for growing fruits and vegetables, hence these
are the main income producers for the Yoruba and the Igbo.
Meanwhile, small ethnic groups living along the coast,
such as the Ijaw, rely on fishing and the salt trade.
MEDIA, TOURISM AND CULTURE 157
It is impossible to write about Nigeria’s cultural
history as a single, identifiable entity because with each
ethnic group comes a separate and distinct cultural past.
Furthermore, a succession of leaders from different
ethnicities have taken control of the country since its
independence from British colonial rule in 1960 and it has
suffered from civil war and severe internal ethnic conflicts.
This, too, has had a major impact on present-day efforts to
build a credible tourist industry.
The Nigerian culture, therefore, is a melting pot
of different traditions, beliefs, art, music, food,
languages and social etiquette.
In a country with over 250 tribal languages, English is
the only one common to almost all and is the official language
of Nigeria. Pidgin, a mix of African languages and English, is
also a lingua franca common throughout Nigeria. Its origins lie
in the need for British sailors to communicate with local
people but it is widely used in the present day.
Religious practices
The most widely practised religions in Nigeria are Christianity
and Islam. The northern region is mostly Muslim, while the
south-eastern and southern states are almost entirely
Christian. The south-western and middle-belt regions are
broadly divided between the two religions, while across the
country there are also many people who practise other
traditional religious beliefs.
Nigerian food varies from region to region, though
there are a few staples that permeate cuisine across the
country. In the south, crops such as corn, yams and sweet
potatoes form the base of the diet. In the north, grains
such as millet, sorghum and corn are boiled into a
porridge-like dish that forms the basis of the diet.
Fruits such as papaya, pineapples, coconuts, oranges,
mangoes and bananas are prevalent in the tropical south.
Alcohol is consumed in the south, but less so in the
predominantly Islamic north.
Historically, art served a social or religious purpose
in Nigeria, but it is now seen as an important cultural
influence in its own right and the country has launched
the careers of some internationally renowned artists,
such as Igbo painter and sculptor Ben Enwonwu.
The country also has a long and incredibly rich literary
history. Nigerians are traditionally storytellers, handing down
tales from generation to generation. With colonisation,
storytelling evolved into more sophisticated literary media and
Nigeria has given the world some of its most famous writers.
INvEST IN NIGERIA 2012-13