Statistically, one out of every four Africans and one out of every five persons of African origin is a Nigerian.
With more than 200 million people, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country. With more than 300 ethnic groups, over 500 languages, and many distinct religious and regional differences, it’s also one of the world’s most culturally diverse countries.
It is becoming increasingly difficult for some Nigerian children, especially those born in the cities, to really know their ethnic group; some can’t differentiate between their state, tribe, and ethnic group. I remember asking a little girl, “Where are you from?”
Then she responded, “I am from Igbo State.” I tried asking if she wanted to say Imo State, but she said no, I am from Igbo State. I told her that Igbo is not a state but an ethnic group. Later, her parents schooled her in their state of origin (Anambra State). Anyone from southern Nigeria who is not a Yoruba person is called an Igbo person, even when the person is not Igbo. Likewise, a Kanuri man from Borno State is tagged as a Hausa man as soon as he gets to the south.
The multi-ethnic nature of Nigeria has put a lot of people at a loss, even amongst Nigerians, not to mention foreigners, especially while observing displays of unique culture, languages, etc. As stated earlier, Nigeria has over 500 languages and over 300 ethnic groups. Bamgbose, in 1978, in his work titled “Models of Communication in Multilingual States,” published in the West African Journal of Modern Languages, estimated that there are about 513 languages spoken in Nigeria.
In this post, a full list of all the ethnic groups in Nigeria is provided in alphabetical order, along with the corresponding state(s) where the ethnic group can be found, so the beauty in her diversity can be easily understood and appreciated. Some frequently asked questions, like “What is the difference between tribe, ethnic group, and nation?” are also presented with answers.
| Name of Ethnic Group | State |
| Abayon | Cross River State |
| Abua (Odual) | Rivers State |
| Achipa (Achipawa) | Kebbi State |
| Adara (Kadara) | Kaduna State, Niger State |
| Affade | Yobe Stae |
| Afizere | Plateau State |
| Afo (Eloyi) | Nasarawa State |
| Agbo | Cross River State |
| Akaju-Ndem (Akajuk) | Cross River State |
| Akweya-Yachi | Benue State |
| Alago (Arago) | Nasarawa State |
| Amo | Plateau State |
| Anaguta | Plateau State |
| Anang | Akwa Ibom State, Cross Rivers |
| Andoni(Obolo) | Akwa Ibom State, Rivers State |
| Ankwei | Plateau State |
| Anyima | Cross River State |
| Atyap (Kataf/Katab, Attakar, Kagoro, Kafanchan, Marwa/Manchok) | Kaduna State |
| Auyoka (Sub-Hausa) | Jigawa State |
| Awori | Lagos State, Ogun State |
| Ayu | Kaduna State |
| Bura-Pabir | Adamawa State, Borno State, Yobe State |
| Bachama | Adamawa State |
| Bachere | Cross River State |
| Bada | Plateau State |
| Bade | Yobe State |
| Bahumono | Cross River State |
| Bakulung | Taraba State |
| Bali | Taraba State |
| Bambora (Bambarawa) | Bauchi State |
| Bambuko | Taraba State |
| Bajju (Kaje, Kajji) | Kaduna State |
| Banda (Bandawa) | Taraba State |
| Banka (Bankalawa) | Bauchi State |
| Banso (Panso) | Adamawa State |
| Bara (Barawa) | Bauchi State |
| Barke | Bauchi State |
| Baruba (Batonu) | Kwara State, Niger State |
| Bashiri (Bashirawa) | Plateau State |
| Bassa | Kaduna State, Kogi State, Niger State, Plateau State |
| Batta | Adamawa State |
| Baushi | Niger State |
| Baya | Adamawa State |
| Bekwarra | Cross River |
| Bele (Buli, Belewa) | Bauchi State |
| Berom (Birom) | Plateau State |
| Betso (Bete) | Taraba State |
| Bette | Cross River State |
| Bilei | Adamawa State |
| Bille | Rivers State |
| Bina (Binawa) | Kaduna State |
| Bini (Edo) | Edo State |
| Bobua | Taraba State |
| Boki (Nki) | Cross River State |
| Bokkos | Plateau State |
| Boko (Bussawa, Bargawa) | Niger State |
| Bole (Bolewa) | Bauchi State, Gombe State, Yobe State |
| Botlere | Adamawa State |
| Boma (Bomawa, Burmano) | Bauchi State |
| Bomboro | Bauchi State |
| Buduma | Borno State, |
| Buji | Plateau State |
| Buli | Bauchi State |
| Bunu | Kogi State |
| Bura-Pabir | Adamawa State, Borno State, Yobe State |
| Burak | Bauchi State |
| Burma (Burmawa) | Plateau State |
| Buru | Yobe State |
| Buta (Butawa) | Bauchi State |
| Bwall | Plateau State |
| Bwatiye | Adamawa State |
| Bwazza | Adamawa State |
| Challa | Plateau State |
| Chama (Chamawa Fitilai) | Bauchi State |
| Chamba | Taraba State |
| Chamo | Bauchi State |
| Chibok (Kibaku people) | Borno State, Yobe State |
| Chinine | Borno State |
| Chip | Plateau State |
| Chokobo | Plateau State |
| Chukkol | Taraba State |
| Daba | Adamawa State |
| Dadiya | Bauchi State |
| Daka | Adamawa State |
| Dakarkari | Kebbi State, Niger State |
| Danda (Dandawa) | Kebbi State |
| Dangsa | Taraba State |
| Daza (Dere, Derewa) | Bauchi State |
| Deno (Denawa) | Bauchi State |
| Dghwede | Borno State |
| Diba | Taraba State |
| Doemak (Dumuk) | Plateau State |
| Ouguri | Bauchi State |
| Duka (Dukawa) | Kebbi State |
| Dundudun (Dunka) | Taraba State |
| Duma (Dumawa) | Bauchi State |
| Ebana (Ebani) | Rivers State |
| Ebira | Edo State, Kogi State, Ondo State |
| Ebu | Edo State, Kogi State |
| Efik | Cross River State |
| Egede (Igede) | Benue State, Cross River State |
| Eggon | Nasarawa State |
| Egun (Gu) | Lagos State, Ogun State |
| Ejagham | Cross River State |
| Ekajuk | Cross River State |
| Eket | Akwa Ibom |
| Ekoi | Cross River State |
| Engenni (Ngene) | Rivers State |
| Epie | Bayelsa State |
| Esan (Ishan) | Edo State |
| Esit Ekid | Akwa Ibom State |
| Etolu (Etilo) | Benue State |
| Etsako | Edo State |
| Etung | Cross River State |
| Etuno | Edo State |
| Palli | Adamawa State |
| Fulani (Fulbe) | Adamawa State, Bauchi State, Borno State, Gombe State, Jigawa State, Kaduna State, Kano State, Katsina State, Kebbi State, Kwara State, Niger State, Plateau State, Sokoto State, Taraba State, Yobe State, Zamfara State |
| Fyam (Fyem) | Plateau State |
| Fyer (Fer) | Plateau State |
| Ga’anda | Adamawa State |
| Gade people | Niger State Nasarawa State |
| Galambi | Bauchi State |
| Gamergu-Mulgwa | Borno State |
| Ganawuri | Plateau State |
| Gavako | Borno State |
| Gbedde | Kogi State |
| Gengle | Taraba State |
| Geji | Bauchi State |
| Gera (Gere, Gerawa) | Bauchi State |
| Geruma (Gerumawa) | Plateau State |
| Gingwak | Bauchi State |
| Gira | Adamawa State |
| Gizigz | Adamawa State |
| Goemai | Plateau State |
| Gokana (Kana) | Rivers State |
| Gombi | Adamawa State |
| Gornun (Gmun) | Taraba State |
| Gonia | Taraba State |
| Gubi (Gubawa) | Bauchi State |
| Gude | Adamawa State |
| Gudu | Adamawa State |
| Gure | Kaduna State |
| Gurmana | Niger State |
| Gururntum | Bauchi State |
| Gusu | Plateau State |
| Gwa (Gurawa) | Adamawa State |
| Gwamba | Adamawa State |
| Gwandara | Kaduna State, Niger State, Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa State |
| Gwari (Gbagyi) | Kaduna State, Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nasarawa State, Niger State,
Kogi State |
| Gwong (Kagoma) | Kaduna State |
| Gwom | Taraba State |
| Gwoza (Waha) | Borno State |
| Gyem | Bauchi State |
| Ham (Hyam, Jaba, Jabba) | Kaduna State |
| Hausa | Bauchi State, Jigawa State, Kaduna State, Kano State, Katsina State, Kebbi State, Sokoto State, Taraba State, Gombe State, Yobe State, Zamfara State |
| Holma | Adamawa State |
| Hona | Adamawa State |
| Ibani | Rivers State |
| Ibeno | Akwa Ibom State |
| Ibibio | Akwa Ibom State, Cross River State |
| Ichen | Adamawa State |
| Idoma | Benue State, Cross River State, Kogi State, Nassarawa State |
| Igala | Kogi State |
| igbira | kogi state |
| Igbo (Ndi Igbo) | Abia State, Anambra State, Delta State, Ebonyi State, Enugu State, Imo State, Rivers State, Benue State, Edo State, Bayelsa State, Cross River State, Kogi State, Akwa Ibom State |
| Igede | Benue state, Cross River State |
| Ijumu | Kogi State |
| Ikom | Cross River State |
| Irigwe | Plateau State |
| Iman | Akwa Ibom State |
| Isoko | Delta State, Bayelsa State |
| Itsekiri (Isekiri) | Delta State |
| Itu | Akwa Ibom State |
| Itu Mbio Uso | Akwa Ibom State |
| Iyala (Iyalla) | Cross River State |
| Izon (Ijaw) | Bayelsa State, Delta State, Edo State, Ondo State, Rivers State |
| Jahuna (Jahunawa) | Taraba State |
| Jaku | Bauchi State |
| Jara (Jaar Jarawa Jarawa-Dutse) | Bauchi State |
| Jere (Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa) | Bauchi State, Plateau State |
| Jero | Taraba State |
| Jibu | Adamawa State |
| Jidda-Abu | Plateau State |
| Jimbin (Jimbinawa) | Bauchi State |
| Jipal | Plateau State |
| Jirai | Adamawa State |
| Joinkrama | Rivers State |
| Jonjo (Jenjo) | Taraba State |
| Jukun | Bauchi State, Benue State, Plateau State, Taraba State |
| Kaba (Kabawa) | Taraba State |
| Kalabari | Rivers State |
| Kajuru (Kajurawa) | Kaduna State |
| Kaka | Adamawa State |
| Kamaku (Karnukawa) | Kaduna State, Kebbi State, Niger State |
| Kambari | Kebbi State, Niger State |
| Kambu | Adamawa State |
| Kamwe | Adamawa State and Borno State (Republic of Cameroon) |
| Kanakuru (Dera) | Adamawa State, Borno State |
| Kanembu | Borno State |
| Kanikon | Kaduna State |
| Kantana | Plateau State |
| Kanuri | Adamawa State, Borno State, Taraba State, Yobe State, Nasarawa state. |
| Karai-karai (Karekare) | Bauchi State, Yobe State |
| Karimjo | Taraba State |
| Kariya | Bauchi State |
| Ke | Rivers State |
| Kenern (Koenoem) | Plateau State |
| Kenton | Taraba State |
| Kiballo (Kiwollo) | Kaduna State |
| Kilba | Adamawa State |
| Kirfi (Kirfawa) | Bauchi State |
| Kodei | Taraba State |
| Kona | Taraba State |
| Kono | Kaduna State |
| Koro (Kwaro) | Kaduna State, Niger State |
| Kubi (Kubawa) | Bauchi State |
| Kudachano (Kudawa) | Bauchi State |
| Kugama | Taraba State |
| Kugbo | Rivers State |
| Kulere (Kaler) | Plateau State |
| Kunini | Taraba State |
| Kurama (Akurmi) | Kaduna State, Jigawa State |
| Kurdul | Adamawa State |
| Kushi | Bauchi State |
| Kuteb | Taraba State |
| Kutin | Taraba State |
| Kwalla | Plateau State |
| Kwami (Kwom) | Bauchi State |
| Kwanchi | Taraba State |
| Kadung | Bauchi State, Plateau State |
| Kwaro | Plateau State |
| Kwato | Plateau State |
| Kyenga (Kengawa) | Kebbi State |
| Laaru (Larawa) | Niger State |
| Lakka | Adamawa State |
| Lala | Adamawa State |
| Lama | Taraba State |
| Lamja | Taraba State |
| Lau | Taraba State |
| Limono | Bauchi State, Plateau State |
| Lopa (Lupa, Lopawa) | Niger State |
| Longuda (Lunguda) | Adamawa State, Bauchi State |
| Mabo | Plateau State |
| Mada | Kaduna State, Plateau State |
| Mama | Plateau State |
| Mambilla | Adamawa State |
| Mandara (Wandala) | Borno State |
| Manga (Mangawa) | Yobe State |
| Margi (Marghi) | Adamawa State, Borno State |
| Mafa (Mofa) | Adamawa State, Borno State |
| Mbembe | Cross River State, Enugu State |
| Mbol | Adamawa State |
| Mbube | Cross River State |
| Mbula | Adamawa State |
| Mbum | Taraba State |
| Memyang (Meryan) | Plateau State |
| Milighili (Mighili) | Plateau State |
| Miya (Miyawa) | Bauchi State |
| Mobber | Borno State |
| Montol | Plateau State |
| Moruwa (Moro’a, Morwa) | Kaduna State |
| Muchaila | Adamawa State |
| Mumuye | Taraba State |
| Mundang | Adamawa State |
| Munga (Lelau) | Taraba State |
| Munga (Mupang) | Plateau State |
| Mupun | Plateau State |
| Mushere | Plateau State |
| Mwahavul (Mwaghavul) | Plateau State |
| Ndoro | Taraba State |
| Ngas (Angas) | Plateau State, Bauchi State |
| Ngizim | Yobe State |
| Ngweshe (Ndhang.Ngoshe-Ndhang) | Adamawa State, Borno State |
| Nyiffon | Benue State |
| Ningi (Ningawa) | Bauchi State |
| Ninzam (Ninzo) | Kaduna State, Plateau State |
| Njayi | Adamawa State |
| Nkim | Cross River State |
| Nkum | Cross River State |
| Nokere (Nakere) | Plateau State |
| Nunku | Kaduna State, Plateau State |
| Nupe | Kogi State, Kwara State, Niger State |
| Nyam | Taraba State |
| Nyandang | Taraba State |
| Obolo(Andoni) | Rivers State, Akwa Ibom |
| Ododop | Cross River |
| Ogori | Kogi State |
| Okobo (Okkobor) | Akwa Ibom State |
| Okirika | Rivers State |
| Okpamheri | Edo State |
| Olukumi | Delta State |
| Oron | Akwa Ibom State
Cross River State |
| Ososo | Edo State |
| Owan | Edo State |
| Owe | Kogi State |
| Oworo | Kogi State |
| Pa’a (Pa’awa Afawa) | Bauchi State |
| Pai | Plateau State |
| Panyam | Taraba State |
| Pero | Bauchi State |
| Pire | Adamawa State |
| Pkanzom | Taraba State |
| Poll | Taraba State |
| Polchi Habe | Bauchi State |
| Pongo (Pongu) | Niger State |
| Potopo | Taraba State |
| Pyapun (Piapung) | Plateau State |
| Qua | Cross River State |
| Rebina (Rebinawa) | Bauchi State |
| Reshe | Kebbi State, Niger State |
| Rindire (Rendre) | Plateau State |
| Rishuwa | Kaduna State |
| Ron | Plateau State |
| Rubu | Niger State |
| Rukuba | Plateau State |
| Rumada | Kaduna State |
| Rumaya | Kaduna State |
| Sakbe | Taraba State |
| Sanga | Bauchi State |
| Sate | Taraba State |
| Saya (Sayawa Za’ar) | Bauchi State, Kaduna State, Plateau State |
| Segidi (Sigidawa) | Bauchi State |
| Shanga (Shangawa) | Kebbi State |
| Shangawa (ShanKadunagau) | Plateau State |
| Shan-Shan | Plateau State |
| Shira (Shira ) | Bauchi State |
| Shomo | Taraba State |
| Shuwa (Baggara Arabs) | Adamawa State, Borno State, Kaduna State, Yobe State |
| Sikdi | Plateau State |
| Siri (Sirawa) | Bauchi State |
| Srubu (Surubu) | Kaduna State |
| Sukur | Adamawa State |
| Sura | Plateau State |
| Tangale | Gombe State |
| Tarok (Yergam) | Plateau State, Taraba State, Nasarawa State |
| Teme | Adamawa State |
| Tera (Terawa) | Bauchi State, Borno State |
| Teshena (Teshenawa) | Kano State |
| Tigon | Taraba State |
| Tikar | Taraba State |
| Tiv | Benue State, FCT, Nasarawa State, Niger State, Plateau State, Taraba State |
| Tula | Gombe State |
| Tur | Adamawa State |
| Ubbo | Adamawa State |
| Udekeama | Rivers State |
| Ufia | Benue State |
| Ukelle | Cross River State, Ebonyi state, Benue state |
| Uncinda | Kaduna State, Kebbi State, Niger State, |
| Uneme (Ineme) | Edo State |
| Ura (Ula) | Niger State |
| Urhobo | Delta State, Bayelsa State. |
| Utonkong | Benue State |
| Uwanno (Weppa-Wanno) | Edo State |
| Uyanga | Cross River State |
| Vemgo | Adamawa State |
| Verre | Adamawa State |
| Vommi | Taraba State |
| Wagga | Adamawa State |
| Waja | Bauchi State |
| Waka | Taraba State |
| Warja (Warja) | Bauchi State |
| Warji | Bauchi State |
| Wurbo | Adamawa State |
| Wurkun | Taraba State |
| Yache | Cross River State |
| Yagba | Kogi State |
| Yakurr (Yako) | Cross River State |
| Yalla | Benue State |
| Yandang | Adamawa State, Taraba State |
| Yoruba | Ekiti State, Kogi State, Kwara State, Lagos State, Ogun State, Ondo State, Osun State, Oyo State |
| Yott | Taraba State |
| Yumu | Niger State |
| Yungur | Adamawa State |
| Yuom | Plateau State |
| Zabara | Niger State |
| Zaranda | Bauchi State |
| Zarma (Zarmawa) | Kebbi State |
| Zayam (Zeam) | Bauchi State |
| Zul (Zulawa) | Bauchi State |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ETHNIC GROUP AND TRIBE?
Many people use the terms interchangeably but they are not exactly the same. Now consider the following definitions and spot out their difference including the definition of a nation:
Ethnic group according to Wikipedia is a grouping of people who identify with each other on the basis of perceived shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups. Those attributes can include a common nation of origin, or common sets of ancestry, traditions, language, history, society, religion, or social treatment. An ethnic group is a group of people having common tribal, racial, cultural, linguistic characteristics that distinguishes them from other group within a society. E g the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba ethnic groups.
Tribe is a subset of the ethnic group. It is a group of people who live together and share a common language, culture, or ancestry. E.g the Ezaa, Ngwa tribes of the Igbo ethnic group or ethnic nationality.
A Nation is a large group of people united by common descent, history, culture or language inhabiting a particular territory or country.
WHAT ARE THE 4 MAJOR ETHNIC GROUP IN NIGERIA?
The four major ethnic groups in Nigeria are the Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo and Ijaw. They are the most populous and politically influential ethnic groups; Hausa-Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%,
WHY DO SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT NIGERIA IS NOT A NATION?
The simple answer to that question is, they judged the Country based on the definition of the word “Nation”. Going by the definition above, Nigeria is not a nation. Because Nigerians do not have common ancestor, neither do they have a uniform culture, and there are over 500 spoken languages in Nigeria.
But a nation is also defined as a territory where all the people are led by the same government. So going by this definition Nigeria is a nation; since the territory is govern by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
WHICH IS THE STRONGEST TRIBE IN NIGERIA?
There a lot of particle on this particular question, but you will notice names like the Hausa-Fulani, Igbos, Yoruba etc which begs the question “are Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba ethnic groups or tribe?” So if they’re ethnic group then they’re not qualified to be given the title of the strongest tribe in Nigeria. Because the question is “what is the strongest tribe in Nigeria” not the strongest ethnic group. That been said, let’s look at the strongest tribe in Nigeria. The Andoni tribe of the Andoni(Obolo) ethnic group in the Niger Delta is arguably the strongest tribe in Nigeria.
The Andoni people are the fiercest warriors in the Niger Delta, they have fought many wars with the Bonny kingdom, the Ogonis, etc. They are one of the first West African tribe to feel the military might of the Europeans as they fiercely fought and resisted the Europeans during the first arrival of the Portuguese; King Nnabiget was the ruling monarch then.
Their bravery and strength earned them national recognition as the first made in Nigeria Naval warship was Named ANDONI P100.
CONCLUSION
There you have it, the most complete list of all the ethnic groups in Nigeria and the States where you can find them. If your ethnic group is in the list, please comment below. If you are one of those Nigerians that feels anyone from the North is an Hausa man or woman, also comment below.