Running head: NIGERIAN CULTURE

Nigerian Culture
Jeliann Carrillo
SW 3110
Wayne State University

Running head: NIGERIAN CULTURE

This paper will be focusing on the Nigerian people. Discussing
and examining an interview done with an immigrant from Nigeria. Prior
to this assignment I was very interested in learning about the Nigerian
culture and traditions. I took special interest after looking in the
readings and realizing there is little to no information in the text about
African immigrants to the United States. After researching on the
history of the culture and gaining a better understanding of it I decided
to meet with classmate Rita Alabi to gain a deeper insight to this
culture.
Nigeria is in West Africa and has the largest population of any African
country (Countries and their cultures, 2006). According to the online
article of countries and their cultures, every ethnic group in Nigeria has
its own stories of where its ancestors came from. These vary from tales
of people descending from the sky to stories of migration from far-off
places.
Nigeria was a huge attraction early on for slave trading. Contact
with Europeans began with the arrival of Portuguese ships in 1486. The
British, French, and Dutch soon followed (Countries and their cultures,
2006). Upon their arrival, they began to trade African Americans
instead of goods how they originally did. Many began selling their
neighbors, whom they had captured in wars and raids, to the
Europeans in exchange for things such as guns, metal, jewelry, and
liquor (Countries and their cultures, 2006). Violence took over Nigeria
and warfare increased as slaves were higher in demand.
As a result of the past, Nigeria may be viewed negatively in the light of
its history. According to Rita, Nigeria is viewed as problematic due to
their economic status, political instability in comparison to other ethnic
groups around the world (Personal communication, 2013). They are
often negatively stereotyped, discriminated negatively against and
oppressed. Africans generally are being termed as underdeveloped due
to the fact that slavery started from Africa as a means of trade. Most
time people view this population as weak or incompetent because of
the lack of industrialization in Africa (Personal communication, 2013).
Ms. Alabi and I shared common characteristics found in the Nigerian
cultures and the Hispanic traditions. In Nigeria like in my culture, the
men are expected to be the head of the household; they are
responsible for providing shelter, food and clothing as well as
maintaining financial stability in the household. More importantly men
are responsible for the entire decision making process without
consultation of the wife in most cases. While the women stay at home
to cook, clean, and take care of the children. The women are not to
work outside the home.

Running head: NIGERIAN CULTURE

A shocking point Rita explained to me is that the male is preferred

and treated with more importance than the female child; this creates a
form of pride in the males. As far as ages goes, the older boys (five
years and older) help their fathers with actual labor. For example, help
with farm and garden works, while the girls (five years and older) help
their mothers in the kitchen and around the house. For example, clean
dishes and run errands around the house. The children under five years
stay at home and play with other children their age until they reach the
age where they have more self-control (around five).
Due to these gender expectations, the women very rarely succeed
while the men rise above them (personal communication, 2013). As a
result of gender roles, women are growing up to be insecure and have
low self-esteem. They grow up with the mentality that their sole
purpose in life is to serve their husband. These traditional tendencies
have carried on generation to generation and are socially accepted in
Nigeria.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Emergence, summarize history

How the family might be viewed in light of the collective
What keeps them close together
How are roles assigned according to age and gender (does it
impact decision making
5. What aspects of the cultures structures and values may lead to
oppression, marginalization and alienation? Dress decision
making structures
6. What aspects of the cultures structures may create or enhance
privilege and power
7. What are the implications for social work practice at both micro
and macro levels (be specific on what you have learned)

Personal Communication.
http://www.infoplease.com/country/nigeria.html?pageno=5
http://www.mapsofworld.com/nigeria/culture/
http://www.everyculture.com/Ma-Ni/Nigeria.html#b