This article is about the full list of all ethnic groups and tribes in Nigeria currently in this year 2023. There are many ethnic groups and tribes in Nigeria. These cultures are mostly extended or evolved branches of the three major tribes in the country being Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba; all of which form part of the top most popular spoken languages in Nigeria. Being a very culturally diverse nation, Nigeria boasts of being one of the most culturally rich countries in the world so much so that by taking a count of all the ethnic groups and tribes within her vast expanse, there are 371 unique cultures to date, all speaking over 500 indigenous languages throughout the federation.
MAJOR ETHNIC GROUPS/TRIBES IN NIGERIA 2023
The following are the major ethnic groups and tribes in Nigeria this 2023:
HAUSA
Hausa is one of the major tribes in Nigeria and the Hausa people of Africa can be found in other countries other than Nigeria such as: Sudan, Cameroon, Chad, Togo, Gabon, Ghana, Senegal, Niger, Eritrea, Congo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Algeria.
The Hausa language is one of the most widely spoken languages in Nigeria, peculiar to the Hausa people and spoken by some 70 million people in the country; for which it is the first language of some 20 million people in Nigeria and the second language of some 50 million people as well. An old form of the Hausa dialect is still being spoken in Sokoto, the Hausa Seat of the Caliphate.
A vast majority of Northern Nigeria is greatly influenced by the Hausa culture even if many people there are not Hausa but speak the language fluently. In Hausaland, it is not out of place to say that the dominant religion there is Islam while the Christian community in and around the region make up a decent number. Hausa culture mandates men and women to dress in conservative outfits. The population of the Hausa people in Nigeria is just above 24 million. Most Hausa Muslim men are permitted by their religion to marry more than one wife.
IGBO
Igbo is another popular major tribes in Nigeria and their language, the Igbo language is one of the top three most popular and most widely spoken languages in the country. The Igbo culture and ethnic group operates a decentralized political system, a form of democratic system of government, and they are mostly concentrated in the south-eastern part of Nigeria. Large Igbo populations can be found outside Nigeria in Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, as well as in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
The Igbo ethnic group and tribe has about 24 million people speaking its local language with over 20 different dialects in existence currently. A widely believed myth, which is also debatable is that the Igbo people, culture and traditions originated from the Nri Kingdom, one of the most ancient Kingdoms in Igboland in present day Anambra State, Nigeria.
Family and state values are very important to the Igbo people and this significantly affects their cultural heritage. Before the Europeans colonized Africa, the Igbo culture practiced African traditional religion as their way of communicating with the Divine but in these present times, a vast majority of the Igbo race are Christians.
YORUBA
Yoruba is among the three most popular ethnic groups and tribes in Nigeria. This group of people are concentrated in the south-western part of the country and they speak the Yoruba language which is peculiar to them. Yoruba language is spoken by around 30 million people in Nigeria and other countries where you can find the people of this culture and tradition include: Benin Republic, Ghana, Togo and Ivory Coast.
The Yoruba culture values the Yoruba religion, their own very form of traditional worship. In recent times, their main religions have been divided between Christianity and Islam with a few embracing traditional worship. They love to socialize and their respect for their elders is unquestioned.
Having briefly talked about the three major ethnic groups in the country, let us now see the comprehensive compilation of all the tribes in Nigeria as we proceed.
LIST OF ETHNIC GROUPS AND TRIBES IN NIGERIA
Below is a detailed list of all the ethnic groups and tribes in Nigeria presently.
- 1 Abayon -Cross River
- 2 Abua (Odual) -Rivers
- 3 Achipa (Achipawa) -Kebbi
- 4 Adim -Cross River
- 5 Adun -Cross River
- 6 Affade -Yobe
- 7 Afizere -Plateau
- 8 Afo -Plateau
- 9 Agbo -Cross River
- 10 Akaju-Ndem (Akajuk) -Cross River
- 11 Akweya-Yachi -Benue
- 12 Alago (Arago) -Piateau
- 13 Amo -Plateau
- 14 Anaguta -Plateau
- 15 Anang -Akwa lbom
- 16 Andoni -Akwa lbom, Rivers
- 17 Angas -Bauchi, Jigawa, Plateau
- 18 Ankwei -Plateau
- 19 Anyima -Cross River
- 20 Attakar (ataka) -Kaduna
- 21 Auyoka (Auyokawa) -Jigawa
- 22 Awori -Lagos, Ogun
- 23 Ayu -Kaduna
- 24 Babur -Adamawa, Bomo, Taraba, Yobe
- 25 Bachama -Adamawa
- 26 Bachere -Cross River
- 27 Bada -Plateau
- 28 Bade -Yobe
- 29 Bahumono -Cross River
- 30 Bakulung -Taraba
- 31 Bali -Taraba
- 32 Bambora (Bambarawa) -Bauchi
- 33 Bambuko -Taraba
- 34 Banda (Bandawa) -Taraba
- 35 Banka (Bankalawa) -Bauchi
- 36 Banso (Panso) -Adamawa
- 37 Bara (Barawa) -Bauchi
- 38 Barke -Bauchi
- 39 Baruba (Barba) -Niger
- 40 Bashiri (Bashirawa) -Plateau
- 41 Bassa -Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Plateau
- 42 Batta -Adamawa
- 43 Baushi -Niger
- 44 Baya -Adamawa
- 45 Bekwarra -Cross River
- 46 Bele (Buli, Belewa) -Bauchi
- 47 Betso (Bete) -Taraba
- 48 Bette -Cross River
- 49 Bilei -Adamawa
- 50 Bille -Adamawa
- 51 Bina (Binawa) -Kaduna
- 52 Bini -Edo
- 53 Birom -Plateau
- 54 Bobua -Taraba
- 55 Boki (Nki) -Cross River
- 56 Bkkos -Plateau
- 57 Boko (Bussawa, Bargawa) -Niger
- 58 Bole (Bolewa) -Bauchi, Yobe
- 59 Botlere -Adamawa
- 60 Boma (Bomawa, Burmano) -Bauchi
- 61 Bomboro -Bauchi
- 62 Buduma -Borno, Niger
- 63 Buji -Plateau
- 64 Buli -Bauchi
- 65 Bunu -Kogi
- 66 Bura -Adamawa
- 67 Burak -Bauchi
- 68 Burma (Burmawa) -Plateau
- 69 Buru -Yobe
- 70 Buta (Butawa) -Bauchi
- 71 Bwall -Plateau
- 72 Bwatiye -Adamawa
- 73 Bwazza -Adamawa
- 74 Challa -Plateau
- 75 Chama (Chamawa Fitilai) -Bauchi
- 76 Chamba -Taraba
- 77 Chamo -Bauchi
- 78 Chibok (Chibbak) -Yobe
- 79 Chinine -Borno
- 80 Chip -Plateau
- 81 Chokobo -Plateau
- 82 Chukkol -Taraba
- 83 Daba -Adamawa
- 84 Dadiya -Bauchi
- 85 Daka -Adamawa
- 86 Dakarkari -Niger, Kebbi
- 87 Danda (Dandawa) -Kebbi
- 88 Dangsa -Taraba
- 89 Daza (Dere, Derewa) -Bauchi
- 90 Degema -Rivers
- 91 Deno (Denawa) -Bauchi
- 92 Dghwede -Bomo
- 93 Diba -Taraba
- 94 Doemak (Dumuk) -Plateau
- 95 Ouguri -Bauchi
- 96 Duka (Dukawa) -Kebbi
- 97 Duma (Dumawa) -Bauchi
- 98 Ebana (Ebani) -Rivers
- 99 Ebirra (lgbirra) -Edo, Kogi, Ondo
- 100 Ebu -Edo, Kogi
- 101 Efik -Cross River
- 102 Egbema -Rivers
- 103 Egede (lgedde) -Benue
- 104 Eggon -Plateau
- 105 Egun (Gu) -Lagos,Ogun
- 106 Ejagham -Cross River
- 107 Ekajuk -Cross River
- 108 Eket -Akwa Ibom
- 109 Ekoi -Cross River
- 110 Engenni (Ngene) -Rivers
- 111 Epie -Rivers
- 112 Esan (Ishan) -Edo
- 113 Etche -Rivers
- 114 Etolu (Etilo) -Benue
- 115 Etsako -Edo
- 116 Etung -Cross River
- 117 Etuno -Edo
- 118 Palli -Adamawa
- 119 Pulani (Pulbe) -Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa , Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi , Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, etc.
- 120 Fyam (Fyem) -Plateau
- 121 Fyer(Fer) -Plateau
- 122 Ga’anda -Adamawa
- 123 Gade -Niger
- 124 Galambi -Bauchi
- 125 Gamergu-Mulgwa -Borno
- 126 Qanawuri -Plateau
- 127 Gavako -Borno
- 128 Gbedde -Kogi
- 129 Gengle -Taraba
- 130 Geji -Bauchi
- 131 Gera (Gere, Gerawa) -Bauchi
- 132 Geruma (Gerumawa) -Plateau
- 133 Geruma (Gerumawa) -Bauchi
- 134 Gingwak -Bauchi
- 135 Gira -Adamawa
- 136 Gizigz -Adamawa
- 137 Goernai -Plateau
- 138 Gokana (Kana) -Rivers
- 139 Gombi -Adamawa
- 140 Gornun (Gmun) -Taraba
- 141 Gonia -Taraba
- 142 Gubi (Gubawa) -Bauchi
- 143 Gude -Adamawa
- 144 Gudu -Adamawa
- 145 Gure -Kaduna
- 146 Gurmana -Niger
- 147 Gururntum -Bauchi
- 148 Gusu -Plateau
- 149 Gwa (Gurawa) -Adamawa
- 150 Gwamba Adamawa
- 151 Gwandara -Kaduna, Niger, Plateau
- 152 Gwari (Gbari) -Kaduna, Niger, Abuja, Plateau
- 153 Gwom -Taraba
- 154 Gwoza (Waha) -Borno
- 155 Gyem -Bauchi
- 156 Hausa: -Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna,Kano, Kastina, Kebbi, Niger,Taraba, Sokoto, Zamfara etc
- 157 Higi (Hig) -Borno, Adamawa
- 158 Holma -Adamawa
- 159 Hona -Adamawa
- 160 Ibeno -Akwa lbom
- 161 Ibibio -Akwa lbom
- 162 Ichen -Adamawa
- 163 Idoma -Benue, Taraba
- 164 Igalla -Kogi
- 165 lgbo: -Abia, Anambra, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi,Enugu, Imo, Rivers
- 166 ljumu -Kogi
- 167 Ikorn -Cross River
- 168 Irigwe -Plateau
- 169 Isoko -Delta
- 170 lsekiri (Itsekiri) -Delta
- 171 lyala (lyalla) -Cross River
- 172 lzondjo -Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo, Rivers
- 173 Jaba -Kaduna
- 174 Jahuna (Jahunawa) -Taraba
- 175 Jaku -Bauchi
- 176 Jara (Jaar Jarawa Jarawa-Dutse) -Bauchi
- 177 Jere (Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa) -Bauchi, Plateau
- 178 Jero -Taraba
- 179 Jibu -Adamawa
- 180 Jidda-Abu -Plateau
- 181 Jimbin (Jimbinawa) -Bauchi
- 182 Jirai -Adamawa
- 183 Jonjo (Jenjo) -Taraba
- 184 Jukun -Bauchi, Benue,Taraba, Plateau
- 185 Kaba(Kabawa) -Taraba
- 186 Kadara -Taraba
- 187 Kafanchan -Kaduna
- 188 Kagoro -Kaduna
- 189 Kaje (Kache) -Kaduna
- 190 Kajuru (Kajurawa) -Kaduna
- 191 Kaka -Adamawa
- 192 Kamaku (Karnukawa) -Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger
- 193 Kambari -Kebbi, Niger
- 194 Kambu -Adamawa
- 195 Kamo -Bauchi
- 196 Kanakuru (Dera) -Adamawa, Borno
- 197 Kanembu -Borno
- 198 Kanikon -Kaduna
- 199 Kantana -Plateau
- 200 Kanuri -Kaduna, Adamawa, Borno, Kano,Niger, Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe
- 201 Karekare (Karaikarai) -Bauchi, Yobe
- 202 Karimjo -Taraba
- 203 Kariya -Bauchi
- 204 Katab (Kataf) -Kaduna
- 205 Kenern (Koenoem) -Plateau
- 206 Kenton -Taraba
- 207 Kiballo (Kiwollo) -Kaduna
- 208 Kilba -Adamawa
- 209 Kirfi (Kirfawa) -Bauchi
- 210 Koma -Taraba
- 211 Kona -Taraba
- 212 Koro (Kwaro) -Kaduna, Niger
- 213 Kubi (Kubawa) -Bauchi
- 214 Kudachano (Kudawa) -Bauchi
- 215 Kugama -Taraba
- 216 Kulere (Kaler) -Plateau
- 217 Kunini -Taraba
- 218 Kurama -Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau
- 219 Kurdul -Adamawa
- 220 Kushi -Bauchi
- 221 Kuteb -Taraba
- 222 Kutin -Taraba
- 223 Kwalla -Plateau
- 224 Kwami (Kwom) -Bauchi
- 225 Kwanchi -Taraba
- 226 Kwanka (Kwankwa) -Bauchi, Plateau
- 227 Kwaro -Plateau
- 228 Kwato -Plateau
- 229 Kyenga (Kengawa) -Sokoto
- 230 Laaru (Larawa) -Niger
- 231 Lakka -Adamawa
- 232 Lala -Adamawa
- 233 Lama -Taraba
- 234 Lamja -Taraba
- 235 Lau -Taraba
- 236 Ubbo -Adamawa
- 237 Limono -Bauchi, Plateau
- 238 Lopa (Lupa, Lopawa) -Niger
- 239 Longuda (Lunguda) -Adamawa, Bauchi
- 240 Mabo -Plateau
- 241 Mada -Kaduna, Plateau
- 242 Mama -Plateau
- 243 Mambilla -Adamawa
- 244 Manchok -Kaduna
- 245 Mandara (Wandala) -Borno
- 246 Manga (Mangawa) -Yobe
- 247 Margi (Marghi) -Adamawa, Borno
- 248 Matakarn -Adamawa
- 249 Mbembe -Cross River, Enugu
- 250 Mbol -Adamawa
- 251 Mbube -Cross River
- 252 Mbula -Adamawa
- 253 Mbum -Taraba
- 254 Memyang (Meryan) -Plateau
- 255 Miango -Plateau
- 256 Miligili (Migili) -Plateau
- 257 Miya (Miyawa) -Bauchi
- 258 Mobber -Borno
- 259 Montol -Plateau
- 260 Moruwa (Moro’a, Morwa) -Kaduna
- 261 Muchaila -Adamawa
- 262 Mumuye -Taraba
- 263 Mundang -Adamawa
- 264 Munga (Mupang) -Plateau
- 265 Mushere -Plateau
- 266 Mwahavul (Mwaghavul) -Plateau
- 267 Ndoro -Taraba
- 268 Ngamo -Bauchi, Yobe
- 269 Ngizim -Yobe
- 270 Ngweshe (Ndhang.Ngoshe-Ndhang) -Adamawa, Borno
- 271 Ningi (Ningawa) -Bauchi
- 272 Ninzam (Ninzo) -Kaduna, Plateau
- 273 Njayi -Adamawa
- 274 Nkim -Cross River
- 275 Nkum -Cross River
- 276 Nokere (Nakere) -Plateau
- 277 Nunku -Kaduna, Plateau
- 278 Nupe -Niger
- 279 Nyandang -Taraba
- 280 Ododop Cross River
- 281 Ogori -Kwara
- 282 Okobo (Okkobor) -Akwa lbom
- 283 Okpamheri -Edo
- 284 Olulumo -Cross River
- 285 Oron -Akwa lbom
- 286 Owan -Edo
- 287 Owe -Kwara
- 288 Oworo -Kwara
- 289 Pa’a (Pa’awa Afawa) -Bauchi
- 290 Pai -Plateau
- 291 Panyam -Taraba
- 292 Pero -Bauchi
- 293 Pire -Adamawa
- 294 Pkanzom -Taraba
- 295 Poll -Taraba
- 296 Polchi Habe -Bauchi
- 297 Pongo (Pongu) -Niger
- 298 Potopo -Taraba
- 299 Pyapun (Piapung) -Plateau
- 300 Qua -Cross River
- 301 Rebina (Rebinawa) -Bauchi
- 302 Reshe -Kebbi, Niger
- 303 Rindire (Rendre) -Plateau
- 304 Rishuwa -Kaduna
- 305 Ron -Plateau
- 306 Rubu -Niger
- 307 Rukuba -Plateau
- 308 Rumada -Kaduna
- 309 Rumaya -Kaduna
- 310 Sakbe -Taraba
- 311 Sanga -Bauchi
- 312 Sate -Taraba
- 313 Saya (Sayawa Za’ar) -Bauchi
- 314 Segidi (Sigidawa) -Bauchi
- 315 Shanga (Shangawa) -Sokoto
- 316 Shangawa (Shangau) -Plateau
- 317 Shan-Shan -Plateau
- 318 Shira (Shirawa) -Kano
- 319 Shomo -Taraba
- 320 Shuwa -Adamawa, Borno
- 321 Sikdi -Plateau
- 322 Siri (Sirawa) -Bauchi
- 323 Srubu (Surubu) -Kaduna
- 324 Sukur -Adamawa
- 325 Sura -Plateau
- 326 Tangale -Bauchi
- 327 Tarok -Plateau, Taraba
- 328 Teme -Adamawa
- 329 Tera (Terawa) -Bauchi, Bomo
- 330 Teshena (Teshenawa) -Kano
- 331 Tigon -Adamawa
- 332 Tikar -Taraba
- 333 Tiv -Benue, Plateau, Taraba and Nasarawa
- 334 Tula -Bauchi
- 335 Tur -Adamawa
- 336 Ufia -Benue
- 337 Ukelle -Cross River
- 338 Ukwani (Kwale) -Delta
- 339 Uncinda -Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto
- 340 Uneme (Ineme) -Edo
- 341 Ura (Ula) -Niger
- 342 Urhobo -Delta
- 343 Utonkong -Benue
- 344 Uyanga -Cross River
- 345 Vemgo -Adamawa
- 346 Verre -Adamawa
- 347 Vommi -Taraba
- 348 Wagga -Adamawa
- 349 Waja -Bauchi
- 350 Waka -Taraba
- 351 Warja (Warja) -Jigawa
- 352 Warji -Bauchi
- 353 Wula -Adamawa
- 354 Wurbo -Adamawa
- 355 Wurkun -Taraba
- 356 Yache -Cross River
- 357 Yagba -Kwara
- 358 Yakurr (Yako) -Cross River
- 359 Yalla -Benue
- 360 Yandang -Taraba
- 361 Yergan (Yergum) -Plateau
- 362 Yoruba -(Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi)
- 363 Yott -Taraba
- 364 Yumu -Niger
- 365 Yungur -Adamawa
- 366 Yuom -Plateau
- 367 Zabara -Niger
- 368 Zaranda -Bauchi
- 369 Zarma (Zarmawa) -Kebbi
- 370 Zayam (Zeam) -Bauchi
- 371 Zul (Zulawa) –Bauchi.
