Meaning of Ethnicity – Basic 4 Civic Education Lesson Note (Third Term)

What is Ethnicity?

Ethnicity means the cultural group you belong to based on your family background. It includes your language, customs, and traditions passed down from your ancestors.

Simple Definition

Ethnicity = Your cultural family group

What Makes Up Ethnicity?

1. LANGUAGE 🗣️

The native language your family speaks

• Yoruba people speak Yoruba
• Igbo people speak Igbo
• Hausa people speak Hausa

2. CUSTOMS 🎭

Special ways of doing things

• How you greet

• Marriage ceremonies

• Naming traditions

• Festival celebrations

3. FOOD 🍲

Traditional meals your group eats

• Yoruba: Amala and ewedu

• Igbo: Fufu and oha soup

• Hausa: Tuwo and miyan kuka

4. CLOTHING 👗

Traditional dress styles

• Yoruba: Agbada, iro and buba

• Igbo: Isi agu, george wrapper

• Hausa: Babban riga, hijab

5. HOMELAND 🏘️

Where your ethnic group mainly lives

• Yoruba: Southwest Nigeria
• Igbo: Southeast Nigeria
• Hausa: Northern Nigeria

Major Ethnic Groups in Nigeria

1. Hausa-Fulani (North)
2. Yoruba (Southwest)
3. Igbo (Southeast)
4. Over 250 other groups like Ijaw, Tiv, Kanuri, Ibibio

Important Facts

✅ You are born into your ethnicity 

✅ You can’t change it 

✅ It’s part of who you are 

✅ Every ethnicity is special 

✅ Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups!

Ethnicity is NOT:

❌ Better or worse than others 

❌ A reason to fight 

❌ The same as nationality 

❌ Something to be ashamed of

Remember!

Your ethnicity is like your family’s special recipe – unique and special, but not better than others!

EXERCISES

A. Fill in the blanks:

1. _______ means your cultural family group.
2. Your ethnicity includes your _______ and customs.
3. Nigeria has over _______ ethnic groups.
4. Yoruba people mainly live in _______ Nigeria.
5. You are _______ into your ethnicity.

B. True or False:

1. Ethnicity can be changed. _______
2. Every ethnicity is special. _______
3. Nigeria has only 3 ethnic groups. _______
4. Language is part of ethnicity. _______
5. Some ethnicities are better. _______

C. Match ethnic group to feature:

D. Circle what makes up ethnicity:

• Money
• Language
• Height
• Customs
• Food
• Age
• Clothing
• Homeland

E. Answer:

1. What is ethnicity?
2. Name 3 major ethnic groups in Nigeria.
3. Can you change your ethnicity?

F. Complete:

My ethnicity includes:

• My language: _______
• My traditional food: _______
• My homeland: _______

G. Think and Write:

Why should we respect all ethnic groups?