Something you didn't know about Nigeria
Here are some interesting facts about Nigeria:
- Nigeria is home to over 250 ethnic groups, each with their own language, culture, and religion. The largest ethnic groups are the Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo.
- Nigeria has over 500 indigenous languages, but English is the official language. Outside of the main cities, English is rarely spoken.
- Nigeria has the third largest movie industry in the world, known as Nollywood.
- Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa and the 12th largest in the world.
- Abuja replaced Lagos as the capital of Nigeria in 1991.
- Nigeria is home to a wide range of butterfly species, with over 1,000 documented species. The Anambra waxbill, a type of estrildid finch, is also exclusive to Southern Nigeria.
- Nigerian food uses spices and herbs with palm or groundnut oil to create flavorful sauces and soups. The country also has many tropical fruits, such as pineapple, coconut, and mango.
- Wole Soyinka, a Nigerian playwright and political activist, was the first African to receive a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986.
- Nigeria came under British control in 1861 and was made a British colony in 1914. It gained independence in 1960 and became a republic in 1963.
- Nigeria is the most populous black nation on Earth. It is home to the second largest film industry on the globe whilst also being the fashion, technological and creative hub in Africa. Nigerians are known for their vibrant and friendly energy expressed through diverse creative expressions.
Nigeria is a patchwork of distinctive regions, including deserts, plains, swamps, mountains, and steamy jungles. It has one of the largest river systems in the world, including the Niger Delta, the third largest delta on Earth. Much of Nigeria is covered with plains and savannas. - Nigeria is one of the most culturally diverse nations. It is inhabited by more than 250 ethnic groups, the largest being the Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. The groups speak over 500 languages, showcase unique art and have diverse cultures with different festivals, cuisines and fashion.