The most populous country in Africa, it is in West Africa. It is bordered in the north by Chad and Niger, in the east by Cameroon, and in the west by Republic of Benin. There are over 250 ethnic groups in the country. The three major languages and ethnicity are Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. Here are ten weird facts about Nigeria that you would love to know.
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Population: 173.6 million (2013) World Bank
Capital: Abuja
Currency: Naira
President: Muhammadu Buhari
Vice president: Yemi Osinbajo
Continent: Africa
System of Government: Democracy
Official Language: English
Weird Facts About Nigeria
1. VARIED GREETING METHODS
The Yoruba’s greet their elders by prostrating. The Hausa’s greet their elders by squatting and holding both hands in reverence. The Igbos greet in the western style of shaking hands. They only bow a little when they shake hands with those they respect.
2. THE “WELL-DONE” GREETING
“Well done o!” is a form of greeting that is liberally used all over. It usually has a different meaning from what it does in formal use.
3. RARE EYE CONTACT
Eye contact is rare. Juniors usually bow their heads and look at the floor as a mark of respect for the senior. Only people of same sex and same age make eye contact. And even in that circle, eye contact is not really viewed as important.
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4. NIGERIAN TIME
Nigerians have what they call “Nigerian time” or “African time.” This means they are rarely punctual for meetings. People are more punctual in official matters especially when such have a top person in the corridor of power coming.
5. DELIBERATE LATENESS
Sometimes, people deliberately arrive late for appointments. The general believe is that the low class needs to all be waiting when the high class arrives. This, it is widely believed, is done to show how “important” they are.
6. MOST MEN UNFAITHFUL
Men pride themselves on how many women they have bedded and are bedding. Being unfaithful by Nigerian men therefore is viewed as an acceptable behavior. Even most wives accept this too and don’t complain.
7. WIRED MARRIED LIFE
In certain Islamic marriages especially in the north, once married, the women never see any male relatives again and vice versa. If her brother is sent to her, for example, he sits at the anteroom, the message it taken to her, a reply is brought to him, and he goes back…without seeing each other.
8. KISSING/HISSING CALL
Public display of affection is becoming prominent. Beckoning one another on the streets, especially among the youth, entails sucking the lips and making a kissing or hissing sound.
9. HIGH HELL TABOO
Homosexuality is a taboo in Nigeria. This cuts across all the multi-cultural, multi-ethnic society. A lot of stigma is attached to it. Those who practice it do so surreptitiously. And if/when it is rumored, the practices face a lot of ridicule.
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10. LEFT IS WRONG
The left hand does not feature well in inter-personal relationships. Most people consider it a taboo to give, receive, or eat things with the left. And this the same in almost all the ethnic groups.
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