Do you know how many tribes Nigeria has? The answer might surprise you: It’s only natural for each of these tribes to have its own unique culture, language, and customs.
If you’re like most people, however, you don’t even know the names of half of them or even their respective states of origin! We live in a modern-day world where it’s easy to take knowledge for granted.
Let’s change that. In this article, we’ll give you a full list of all the tribes in Nigeria and their state of origin.
Overview of Nigerian Tribes
Nigeria is made up of a diverse set of communities, each with its own unique culture, language, and history. It is the most populous country in Africa, with a population of over 200 million.
Out of Nigeria’s vast population, there are over 300 tribes and ethnic groups, each with its own language, culture, and customs. This immense diversity makes Nigeria a melting pot of different people and cultures.
The majority of Nigeria’s tribes can be divided into three major ethnic groups; however, there are many other tribal groups within Nigeria, such as the Tiv, Ibibio, Mambila, Efik, and Kanuri, to name a few.
It is important to recognize the vast array of different tribes in Nigeria.
How many Tribes are in Nigeria?
When it comes to the population of Nigeria, its people are divided into various ethnic groups and tribes. These diverse cultures enrich the country in so many ways, creating a colourful and vibrant community of citizens.
So, how many tribes are there in Nigeria? There are 371 tribes in Nigeria. Some of the most common tribes include the Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, Yoruba, Ijaw, and Kanuri. Each one has its own indigenous language, culture, and customs that distinguish it from its neighbours.
In addition to these major tribal groups, there are also several smaller sub-tribes that can be found around the country. Each state in Nigeria has its own set of tribes as well: for example, Bayelsa State is home to the Ijaw tribe, while Kano State is home to the Hausa tribe.
Major Tribes in Nigeria
Nigeria is home to over 300 ethnic groups, each with its own distinct culture and traditions. It’s no wonder that Nigeria is known as the most ethnically diverse country in Africa! Out of all of them, these are the top three major tribal groups:
Hausa
This group belongs mainly to the northern part of Nigeria and is made up of indigenous Hausa communities. The Hausa tribe makes up about 25% of the Nigerian population. They are mainly found in states such as Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina, Bauchi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
Yoruba
This group is mainly found in southwestern Nigeria and is estimated to make up about 21% of the population. They are dominant in states such as Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Lagos.
Igbo
This ethnic group is mostly found in southeastern Nigeria and is thought to make up about 18% of the population. Their states include Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.
These three groups form the bulk of the Nigerian population, but there are many more tribes with their own unique cultures that make this country a beautiful mosaic!
List of All Nigerian Tribes and their State of origin
Below, we’ll provide a comprehensive list of all the different tribes in Nigeria and their respective states of origin.
1 Abayon -Cross River
2 Abua (Odual) -Rivers
3 Achipa (Achipawa) -Kebbi
4 Adim -Cross River
5 Adun -Cross River
6 Affade -Yobe
7 Afizere -Plateau
8 Afo -Plateau
9 Agbo -Cross River
10 Akaju-Ndem (Akajuk) -Cross River
11 Akweya-Yachi -Benue
12 Alago (Arago) -Plateau
13 Amo -Plateau
14 Anaguta -Plateau
15 Anang -Akwa lbom
16 Andoni -Akwa lbom, Rivers
17 Angas -Bauchi, Jigawa, Plateau
18 Ankwei -Plateau
19 Anyima -Cross River
20 Attakar (ataka) -Kaduna
21 Auyoka (Auyokawa) -Jigawa
22 Awori -Lagos, Ogun
23 Ayu -Kaduna
24 Babur -Adamawa, Bomo, Taraba, Yobe
25 Bachama -Adamawa
26 Bachere -Cross River
27 Bada -Plateau
28 Bade -Yobe
29 Bahumono -Cross River
30 Bakulung -Taraba
31 Bali -Taraba
32 Bambora (Bambarawa) -Bauchi
33 Bambuko -Taraba
34 Banda (Bandawa) -Taraba
35 Banka (Bankalawa) -Bauchi
36 Banso (Panso) -Adamawa
37 Bara (Barawa) -Bauchi
38 Barke -Bauchi
39 Baruba (Barba) -Niger
40 Bashiri (Bashirawa) -Plateau
41 Bassa -Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Plateau
42 Batta -Adamawa
43 Baushi -Niger
44 Baya -Adamawa
45 Bekwarra -Cross River
46 Bele (Buli, Belewa) -Bauchi
47 Betso (Bete) -Taraba
48 Bette -Cross River
49 Bilei -Adamawa
50 Bille -Adamawa
51 Bina (Binawa) -Kaduna
52 Bini -Edo
53 Birom -Plateau
54 Bobua -Taraba
55 Boki (Nki) -Cross River
56 Bkkos -Plateau
57 Boko (Bussawa, Bargawa) -Niger
58 Bole (Bolewa) -Bauchi, Yobe
59 Botlere -Adamawa
60 Boma (Bomawa, Burmano) -Bauchi
61 Bomboro -Bauchi
62 Buduma -Borno, Niger
63 Buji -Plateau
64 Buli -Bauchi
65 Bunu -Kogi
66 Bura -Adamawa
67 Burak -Bauchi
68 Burma (Burmawa) -Plateau
69 Buru -Yobe
70 Buta (Butawa) -Bauchi
71 Bwall -Plateau
72 Bwatiye -Adamawa
73 Bwazza -Adamawa
74 Challa -Plateau
75 Chama (Chamawa Fitilai) -Bauchi
76 Chamba -Taraba
77 Chamo -Bauchi
78 Chibok (Chibbak) -Yobe
79 Chinine -Borno
80 Chip -Plateau
81 Chokobo -Plateau
82 Chukkol -Taraba
83 Daba -Adamawa
84 Dadiya -Bauchi
85 Daka -Adamawa
86 Dakarkari -Niger, Kebbi
87 Danda (Dandawa) -Kebbi
88 Dangsa -Taraba
89 Daza (Dere, Derewa) -Bauchi
90 Degema -Rivers
91 Deno (Denawa) -Bauchi
92 Dghwede -Bomo
93 Diba -Taraba
94 Doemak (Dumuk) -Plateau
95 Ouguri -Bauchi
96 Duka (Dukawa) -Kebbi
97 Duma (Dumawa) -Bauchi
98 Ebana (Ebani) -Rivers
99 Ebirra (lgbirra) -Edo, Kogi, Ondo
100 Ebu -Edo, Kogi
101 Efik -Cross River
102 Egbema -Rivers
103 Egede (lgedde) -Benue
104 Eggon -Plateau
105 Egun (Gu) -Lagos,Ogun
106 Ejagham -Cross River
107 Ekajuk -Cross River
108 Eket -Akwa Ibom
109 Ekoi -Cross River
110 Engenni (Ngene) -Rivers
111 Epie -Rivers
112 Esan (Ishan) -Edo
113 Etche -Rivers
114 Etolu (Etilo) -Benue
115 Etsako -Edo
116 Etung -Cross River
117 Etuno -Edo
118 Palli -Adamawa
119 Pulani (Pulbe) -Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa , Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi , Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, etc.
120 Fyam (Fyem) -Plateau
121 Fyer(Fer) -Plateau
122 Ga’anda -Adamawa
123 Gade -Niger
124 Galambi -Bauchi
125 Gamergu-Mulgwa -Borno
126 Qanawuri -Plateau
127 Gavako -Borno
128 Gbedde -Kogi
129 Gengle -Taraba
130 Geji -Bauchi
131 Gera (Gere, Gerawa) -Bauchi
132 Geruma (Gerumawa) -Plateau
133 Geruma (Gerumawa) -Bauchi
134 Gingwak -Bauchi
135 Gira -Adamawa
136 Gizigz -Adamawa
137 Goernai -Plateau
138 Gokana (Kana) -Rivers
139 Gombi -Adamawa
140 Gornun (Gmun) -Taraba
141 Gonia -Taraba
142 Gubi (Gubawa) -Bauchi
143 Gude -Adamawa
144 Gudu -Adamawa
145 Gure -Kaduna
146 Gurmana -Niger
147 Gururntum -Bauchi
148 Gusu -Plateau
149 Gwa (Gurawa) -Adamawa
150 Gwamba Adamawa
151 Gwandara -Kaduna, Niger, Plateau
152 Gwari (Gbari) -Kaduna, Niger, Abuja, Plateau
153 Gwom -Taraba
154 Gwoza (Waha) -Borno
155 Gyem -Bauchi
156 Hausa: -Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna,Kano, Kastina, Kebbi, Niger,Taraba, Sokoto, Zamfara etc
157 Higi (Hig) -Borno, Adamawa
158 Holma -Adamawa
159 Hona -Adamawa
160 Ibeno -Akwa lbom
161 Ibibio -Akwa lbom
162 Ichen -Adamawa
163 Idoma -Benue, Taraba
164 Igalla -Kogi
165 lgbo: -Abia, Anambra, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi,Enugu, Imo, Rivers
166 ljumu -Kogi
167 Ikorn -Cross River
168 Irigwe -Plateau
169 Isoko -Delta
170 lsekiri (Itsekiri) -Delta
171 lyala (lyalla) -Cross River
172 lzondjo -Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo, Rivers
173 Jaba -Kaduna
174 Jahuna (Jahunawa) -Taraba
175 Jaku -Bauchi
176 Jara (Jaar Jarawa Jarawa-Dutse) -Bauchi
177 Jere (Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa) -Bauchi, Plateau
178 Jero -Taraba
179 Jibu -Adamawa
180 Jidda-Abu -Plateau
181 Jimbin (Jimbinawa) -Bauchi
182 Jirai -Adamawa
183 Jonjo (Jenjo) -Taraba
184 Jukun -Bauchi, Benue,Taraba, Plateau
185 Kaba(Kabawa) -Taraba
186 Kadara -Taraba
187 Kafanchan -Kaduna
188 Kagoro -Kaduna
189 Kaje (Kache) -Kaduna
190 Kajuru (Kajurawa) -Kaduna
191 Kaka -Adamawa
192 Kamaku (Karnukawa) -Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger
193 Kambari -Kebbi, Niger
194 Kambu -Adamawa
195 Kamo -Bauchi
196 Kanakuru (Dera) -Adamawa, Borno
197 Kanembu -Borno
198 Kanikon -Kaduna
199 Kantana -Plateau
200 Kanuri -Kaduna, Adamawa, Borno, Kano,Niger, Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe
201 Karekare (Karaikarai) -Bauchi, Yobe
202 Karimjo -Taraba
203 Kariya -Bauchi
204 Katab (Kataf) -Kaduna
205 Kenern (Koenoem) -Plateau
206 Kenton -Taraba
207 Kiballo (Kiwollo) -Kaduna
208 Kilba -Adamawa
209 Kirfi (Kirfawa) -Bauchi
210 Koma -Taraba
211 Kona -Taraba
212 Koro (Kwaro) -Kaduna, Niger
213 Kubi (Kubawa) -Bauchi
214 Kudachano (Kudawa) -Bauchi
215 Kugama -Taraba
216 Kulere (Kaler) -Plateau
217 Kunini -Taraba
218 Kurama -Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau
219 Kurdul -Adamawa
220 Kushi -Bauchi
221 Kuteb -Taraba
222 Kutin -Taraba
223 Kwalla -Plateau
224 Kwami (Kwom) -Bauchi
225 Kwanchi -Taraba
226 Kwanka (Kwankwa) -Bauchi, Plateau
227 Kwaro -Plateau
228 Kwato -Plateau
229 Kyenga (Kengawa) -Sokoto
230 Laaru (Larawa) -Niger
231 Lakka -Adamawa
232 Lala -Adamawa
233 Lama -Taraba
234 Lamja -Taraba
235 Lau -Taraba
236 Ubbo -Adamawa
237 Limono -Bauchi, Plateau
238 Lopa (Lupa, Lopawa) -Niger
239 Longuda (Lunguda) -Adamawa, Bauchi
240 Mabo -Plateau
241 Mada -Kaduna, Plateau
242 Mama -Plateau
243 Mambilla -Adamawa
244 Manchok -Kaduna
245 Mandara (Wandala) -Borno
246 Manga (Mangawa) -Yobe
247 Margi (Marghi) -Adamawa, Borno
248 Matakarn -Adamawa
249 Mbembe -Cross River, Enugu
250 Mbol -Adamawa
251 Mbube -Cross River
252 Mbula -Adamawa
253 Mbum -Taraba
254 Memyang (Meryan) -Plateau
255 Miango -Plateau
256 Miligili (Migili) -Plateau
257 Miya (Miyawa) -Bauchi
258 Mobber -Borno
259 Montol -Plateau
260 Moruwa (Moro’a, Morwa) -Kaduna
261 Muchaila -Adamawa
262 Mumuye -Taraba
263 Mundang -Adamawa
264 Munga (Mupang) -Plateau
265 Mushere -Plateau
266 Mwahavul (Mwaghavul) -Plateau
267 Ndoro -Taraba
268 Ngamo -Bauchi, Yobe
269 Ngizim -Yobe
270 Ngweshe (Ndhang.Ngoshe-Ndhang) -Adamawa, Borno
271 Ningi (Ningawa) -Bauchi
272 Ninzam (Ninzo) -Kaduna, Plateau
273 Njayi -Adamawa
274 Nkim -Cross River
275 Nkum -Cross River
276 Nokere (Nakere) -Plateau
277 Nunku -Kaduna, Plateau
278 Nupe -Niger
279 Nyandang -Taraba
280 Ododop Cross River
281 Ogori -Kwara
282 Okobo (Okkobor) -Akwa lbom
283 Okpamheri -Edo
284 Olulumo -Cross River
285 Oron -Akwa lbom
286 Owan -Edo
287 Owe -Kwara
288 Oworo -Kwara
289 Pa’a (Pa’awa Afawa) -Bauchi
290 Pai -Plateau
291 Panyam -Taraba
292 Pero -Bauchi
293 Pire -Adamawa
294 Pkanzom -Taraba
295 Poll -Taraba
296 Polchi Habe -Bauchi
297 Pongo (Pongu) -Niger
298 Potopo -Taraba
299 Pyapun (Piapung) -Plateau
300 Qua -Cross River
301 Rebina (Rebinawa) -Bauchi
302 Reshe -Kebbi, Niger
303 Rindire (Rendre) -Plateau
304 Rishuwa -Kaduna
305 Ron -Plateau
306 Rubu -Niger
307 Rukuba -Plateau
308 Rumada -Kaduna
309 Rumaya -Kaduna
310 Sakbe -Taraba
311 Sanga -Bauchi
312 Sate -Taraba
313 Saya (Sayawa Za’ar) -Bauchi
314 Segidi (Sigidawa) -Bauchi
315 Shanga (Shangawa) -Sokoto
316 Shangawa (Shangau) -Plateau
317 Shan-Shan -Plateau
318 Shira (Shirawa) -Kano
319 Shomo -Taraba
320 Shuwa -Adamawa, Borno
321 Sikdi -Plateau
322 Siri (Sirawa) -Bauchi
323 Srubu (Surubu) -Kaduna
324 Sukur -Adamawa
325 Sura -Plateau
326 Tangale -Bauchi
327 Tarok -Plateau, Taraba
328 Teme -Adamawa
329 Tera (Terawa) -Bauchi, Bomo
330 Teshena (Teshenawa) -Kano
331 Tigon -Adamawa
332 Tikar -Taraba
333 Tiv -Benue, Plateau, Taraba and Nasarawa
334 Tula -Bauchi
335 Tur -Adamawa
336 Ufia -Benue
337 Ukelle -Cross River
338 Ukwani (Kwale) -Delta
339 Uncinda -Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto
340 Uneme (Ineme) -Edo
341 Ura (Ula) -Niger
342. Urhobo -Delta
343. Utonkong -Benue
344. Uyanga -Cross River
345. Vemgo -Adamawa
346. Verre -Adamawa
347. Vommi -Taraba
348. Wagga -Adamawa
349. Waja -Bauchi
350. Waka -Taraba
351. Warja (Warja) -Jigawa
352. Warji -Bauchi
353. Wula -Adamawa
354. Wurbo -Adamawa
355. Wurkun -Taraba
356. Yache -Cross River
357. Yagba -Kwara
358. Yakurr (Yako) -Cross River
359 .Yalla -Benue
360. Yandang -Taraba
361. Yergan (Yergum) -Plateau
362. Yoruba -(Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi)
363. Yott -Taraba
364. Yumu -Niger
365. Yungur -Adamawa
366. Yuom -Plateau
367. Zabara -Niger
368. Zaranda -Bauchi
369. Zarma (Zarmawa) -Kebbi
370. Zayam (Zeam) -Bauchi
371. Zul (Zulawa) -Bauchi
Conclusion
Nigeria is a diverse country with 371 different tribes, each with its own rich culture and heritage.
While there are many differences between the tribes in Nigeria, they are also united in their shared culture and past. The different tribes in Nigeria form a strong national bond and identity, making it a powerful and vibrant country. So, whether you’re researching for fun or for business, knowing a little about the many tribes in Nigeria is a great way to get to know the people, culture, and history of the country.