Ethnographic expedition to Nigeria: Special tribes from the North

Discover the highlights of this ethnographic expedition to Nigeria

Abuja: A First Introduction to Nigeria

The ethnographic expedition to Nigeria begins in Abuja, the country's modern capital and the gateway to some of the most fascinating cultural regions of northern Nigeria. If time permits, we will visit the Abuja National Mosque, one of the city's most important religious landmarks, before exploring the renowned Nike Art Gallery. This prestigious venue houses one of Nigeria's finest collections of contemporary and traditional art, providing an excellent introduction to the country's extraordinary cultural diversity. Thus, this first stage of the ethnographic expedition to Nigeria offers an insight into the contrast between urban Nigeria and the rich artistic heritage that defines the country.

The Gwari People: Boori Rituals and Traditional Masquerades

One of the first major cultural encounters of the ethnographic expedition to Nigeria will be with the Gwari people, one of the traditional communities of central Nigeria. After being welcomed by the local chief, we will attend a Boori ritual, an ancient ceremonial practice linked to spiritual beliefs that remains an important part of the community's cultural identity. Afterwards, we will witness a spectacular traditional masquerade, where music, dance and ceremonial masks play a central role in community celebrations. This experience offers a remarkable opportunity to understand the ritual richness and symbolic traditions of the Gwari people.

Yola: History and Tradition in the Former Emirate

The ethnographic expedition to Nigeria continues to Yola, one of the principal cities of north-eastern Nigeria and the former political centre of the Adamawa Emirate. We will explore its lively central market, where traders and local communities create a vibrant display of the region's cultural diversity. We will also visit the palace of the Lamido, the traditional ruler of the former emirate, whose institution continues to play an important role in local society. This stage of the journey provides valuable insight into the history and traditional structures that still shape everyday life in northern Nigeria.

The Koma People: An Isolated Culture in the Alantika Mountains

One of the highlights of the ethnographic expedition to Nigeria will be the encounter with the Koma people, who inhabit the remote Alantika Mountains near the border with Cameroon. We will meet this remarkable community, which has preserved many of its traditions thanks to its geographical isolation. We will also attend a traditional Koma dance, a cultural expression that reflects the identity and ancestral heritage of these mountain people.

The Kingdom of Numan and the Bachama People

The journey continues to the historic Kingdom of Numan, the traditional heartland of the Bachama people. We will be welcomed by the Bachama king, who continues to play a significant role within the kingdom's traditional authority. Afterwards, we will spend time with Bachama women to discover two of the most distinctive features of their cultural identity: their elaborate traditional hairstyles and the facial scarification that still forms part of the community's cultural heritage today. Thus, this stage of the ethnographic expedition to Nigeria offers the opportunity to discover one of the most important traditional kingdoms in north-eastern Nigeria.

The Longuda People: Tradition and Ceremonial Dances

The ethnographic expedition to Nigeria continues in Guyok, where we will meet the Longuda people. During our visit, we will take part in a traditional tribal dance. A celebration that keeps alive the ceremonial and cultural expressions passed down through generations. This encounter provides an opportunity to discover the customs and identity of one of eastern Nigeria's lesser-known communities.

The Mumuye People: Masquerades and Animist Traditions

The expedition then leads us into the Shebshi Hills, the traditional homeland of the Mumuye people, one of Nigeria's most representative animist communities. After meeting the chief of Yorro, we will attend a traditional welcoming masquerade, where masks, music and dance retain profound spiritual significance. This experience offers a deeper understanding of the importance that ancestral beliefs continue to hold within Mumuye society and provides insight into one of Nigeria's best-preserved traditional cultures.

A Remote Mumuye Mountain Village: Rites of Passage and Ancestral Traditions

One of the defining moments of the ethnographic expedition to Nigeria will be the hike to a remote Mumuye mountain village. There we will spend time with a community whose way of life remains closely connected to its animist beliefs and ancestral traditions. During our visit, we will gain first-hand insight into its social organisation and have the opportunity to witness a male coming-of-age ceremony, a rite of passage that symbolises the transition into adulthood and continues to play a vital role in community life. Overall, the ethnographic expedition to Nigeria offers an exceptional immersion into some of the country's most fascinating traditional peoples. Throughout the journey, we will combine encounters with traditional authorities, ancestral ceremonies and authentic cultural experiences in the little-visited regions of northern Nigeria.

© Photos by Jordi Zaragozà Anglès and Aníbal Bueno taken during an ethnographic expedition to Nigeria.

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