NIGERIA !!!By: Luis Velásquez. 05 – 03 - 14

History of Nigeria Nigeria contains more historic cultures and

empires than any other other nation in Africa. They date back as far as the 5th century BC, when communities living around the southern slopes of the Jos plateau make wonderfully expressive terracotta figures - in a tradition known now as theNok culture, from the Nigerian village where these sculptures are first unearthed. The Nok people are neolithic tribes who have recently acquired theiron technologyspreading southwards through Africa.

Things to see in Nigeria Tourism in Nigeria centers largely on

events, due to the country's ample amount of ethnic groups, but also includes rain forests,savannah, waterfalls, and other natural attractions. Tourist sites in Nigeria include festivals and cultural celebrations (such as Durbar festivals), the nation's national parks (such as Old Oyo,Yankari, and Cross River National Parks.

Languages of Nigeria There are hundreds of languages spoken in

Nigeria. The official language of Nigeria, English, the former colonial language, was chosen to facilitate the cultural and linguistic unity of the country. English remains an exclusive preserve of the country's urban elite, and is not widely spoken in rural areas, which comprise three quarters of the country's population.

The other major languages are Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Ibibio, Edo, Fulfulde, and Kanuri

Religions of Nigeria There exist several religions in Nigeria, helping to

accentuate regional and ethnic distinctions. All religions represented inNigeria were practiced in every major city in 1990. However, Islam dominated the north and had a number of supporters in the South Western, Yoruba part of the country. Nigeria has the largest Muslim population in sub-Saharan Africa. Protestantism and local syncretic Christianity are also in evidence in Yoruba areas, while Catholicism dominates the Igbo and closely related areas. Both Protestantism and Catholicism dominated in the Ibibio, Annang, and the Efik kiosa lands.