Nigeria, a nation with over 500 ethnic groups, presents a complex multi-cultural society where stereotypes, unfortunately, play a role in inter-ethnic relations. Among these numerous groups, the Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba stand out, each with their unique characteristics. However, these peculiarities sometimes lead to misconceptions and stereotypes.
Distribution of major ethnic groups in Nigeria.
Stereotypes about the Igbo People
The Igbos, primarily located in Southeastern Nigeria (Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, and Abia), are one of the leading ethnic groups in the country. Despite their rich culture and contributions, several stereotypes persist.
They Know Nothing But Business
It's undeniable that Igbos are prominent in business, especially in major markets. However, to say that they know nothing but business is a gross oversimplification. They are also found in politics, literature, education, economy and other sectors. The list is endless. Late Nnamdi Azikiwe, was a businessman, first prime minister of Nigeria and a nationalist as well as a lawyer. The literary lord, the man of words and the author of the evergreen book Things Fall Apart that made the world change their perception about African literature, late Chinua Achebe was not a businessman, same with Chiwetel Ejiofor, and also Chimamanda Adichie. Take it or leave it, no matter the field an Igbo Man ventures into, the business trait tails him.
All Igbo Women Are Light Skinned
While many Igbo women are light-skinned, it is untrue to assume that all of them are. There are chocolate, ebony, and dark-skinned ladies among them. In addition, light skinned women are not restricted to Igbo women alone but it cut across all Nigerian tribes. When next you see a light skinned lady, do not make up your mind that she is Igbo!
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They Love ‘Ego‘ also Known as ‘Money‘
Who does not love money? Money is desired by almost everyone in varying degrees. Many say you cannot date an Igbo girl if you do not have money but these preconceived notions are not entirely based on facts. Rather than singling out a particular ethnic group to castigate, this is a blanket perception for all ethnic groups. Same thing for the men. There should be no ethnic colouration when it comes to making money.
It’s Expensive to Marry an Igbo Woman
Nigerian women are beautiful, expensive and sophisticated. A man should be happy to marry an Igbo woman because she is not cheap. A man should be proud to provide everything on the list presented to him by the parents to show that he is a ‘man’, however, there is always room for negotiation. So, the stereotype that before you marry an Igbo woman, you need to bring an arm and a leg only applies when the groom’s family are not masters at striking a good bargain.
All Igbos Have Left Their Villages for Lagos
Lagos is the melting pot for various ethnic groups and the commercial heartbeat of Nigeria as a result, the state is bound to be peopled by different tribes. However, expressing the thought that all Igbos have emptied their various states to reside in Lagos is laughable and wrong.
The Use of Derogatory Terms
Language often serves as a vehicle for ethnic identity, but it can also deepen divides when epithets are used. One such word is “Aboki,” a Hausa word that translates to “friend” in English but is used derogatorily, primarily by Southerners, to refer to people of northern extraction. Another is “ndi ofe mmanu,” an Igbo term for the Yoruba people. It translates to “People of oily soup” and stems from how the Igbo find soups made by Yorubas to have been cooked with too much oil.
A Yoruba phrase meaning “Igbo person,” “Omo Igbo” has other meanings depending on the context and is often used as a tribal slur. “Omo Igbo” is an all encompassing-basket into which all the negative stereotypes about Igbo people are dropped. “Omo Igbo” is also used to easily identify someone of southern extraction. But while using “Omo Igbo” as an identifier might seem innocuous, it emphasizes the difference between me, an Igbo person, and the Yorubas around me.
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Mary, a young Igbo girl studying in Ife, Osun State, experienced a similar feeling recently. She was listening to the radio in the lead-up to the general elections in Nigeria when she heard derogatory remarks about the Igbo presidential candidate. He was called an “Omo Igbo Oloriburuku” who would take everything the Yorubas had if he became president. It was also suggested that Igbo people return to where they came from. Mary says she was heartbroken to hear these tribalistic comments. She grew up in an environment she thought was accepting and welcoming.
Ultimately, using tribal slurs like “Omo Igbo” speaks to a deeper problem in our society - a lack of understanding and empathy for those different from us. People who use words like “Omo Igbo” don’t get to decide whether it is offensive, instead they should look to understand how such terms are used to reinforce negative stereotypes. “Omo Igbo” is not just an innocent label; it is evident that it reinforces harmful stereotypes and promotes divisions. These negative stereotypes only serve to perpetuate the cycle of hate and violence.
Sometimes, these “mere words” trigger offline violence. For example, in a community in Lagos, suspected political thugs attacked non-indigenes for voting against the incumbent party during the concluded general elections.
Anti-Igbo Sentiment (Igbophobia)
Anti-Igbo sentiment (also known as Igbophobia) encompasses a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards the Igbo people. The Igbo people make up a majority of the population in Nigeria's South East, and a sizeable part of the populations of the South South and the Middle Belt zones.
Anti-Igbo sentiment was catalyzed by the introduction of Western education. During the early stages of British colonialism, the Yoruba people were the first major ethnic group of Nigeria to be introduced to Western education, followed closely by the Igbo people. Eventually, this enabled them a wide range of employment opportunities in colonial Nigeria, which consequently led to the Igbo peoples' dominance in critical sectors such as the military, clerical roles, and other skilled or semi-skilled positions within the country's postal services, banking institutions, and railway services, particularly in regions like Northern Region, where local populations had traditionally shunned the educational qualifications for colonial labor.
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The frequent theme of hatred and the lack of trust towards the Igbos by certain people in Nigeria has parts of its origins in the 1966 coup, led by a majority of Igbo military, under the command of officers Chukwuma Nzeogwu and Emmanuel Ifeajuna.
Anti-Igbo sentiments proliferated in Lagos during the Nigerian Civil War. Talk of killing the Igbo people was common.
After the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970, the Igbo people faced various forms of discrimination and marginalization as a result of their role in attempting to secede from Nigeria and their actions during the war.
Following the transition of power from the PDP to the APC in Nigeria in 2015, noticeable cases of Igbophobia emerged within the Nigerian government. While instances of institutional discrimination against Igbos were already observed in employment and housing opportunities, discrimination against Igbos took on a more systemic nature under the APC's governance.
Examples of Anti-Igbo Sentiment in Recent Years
- In August 2019, a Yoruba supremacist and secessionist who immigrated to the United Kingdom from Nigeria was arrested by British police for making YouTube videos that contained violent hate speech towards the Igbo people.
- During the 2023 general and gubernatorial election period, a surge in anti-Igbo sentiment surfaced on social media.
- Leading up to the 2015 Lagos gubernatorial elections, the Oba of Lagos stated that Igbos who do not vote for Akinwunmi Ambode will perish in the lagoon within seven days.
- In the weeks leading up to the 2023 gubernatorial elections, candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who is part Yoruba (from his father's side) and part Igbo (from his mother's side) faced anti-Igbo discrimination and insults.
The Role of Stereotypes in Nigerian Ethnic Relations
Stereotypes reinforce ethnic divisions, leading to polarised political loyalties among the Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo. By 1959, Nigeria's democracy was fundamentally ethnic-driven, evidenced by political party alignments. Language serves as a vehicle for ethnic identity and prejudice, deepening divides when epithets are used. Research indicates that native languages carry stronger emotional weight, entrenching negative stereotypes against out-groups.
Ethnic animosity, hate campaigns and religious dichotomy characterized the build-up to the elections. In Lagos, the gubernatorial elections that followed saw targeted violence and disenfranchisement of voters based on ethnicity. Ethnic baiting and weaponization of tribal sentiments during elections in Nigeria are not new.
There was no effort to improve ethnic relations and there were no repercussions from the Nigerian government on most people who expressed hateful sentiments which pushed the attacks and discrimination that Igbos faced during the elections.
Nigeria´s Ethnic Groups Explained
Theoretical Framework
The Social Identity Theory is adopted as the theoretical orientation for this work. Primary data was collected using questionnaires modelled after the Princeton Trilogy, and interviews. Secondary data was collected from media sources.
Methodology
The study utilized qualitative primary data through questionnaires and informal interviews within a purposively selected university community. The Adjective Check List, adapted from the Princeton Trilogy, identified salient stereotypes for different ethnicities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What explains the role of stereotypes in Nigerian ethnic relations?
The study reveals that stereotypes reinforce ethnic divisions, leading to polarised political loyalties among the Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo. By 1959, Nigeria's democracy was fundamentally ethnic-driven, evidenced by political party alignments.
How does language perpetuate ethnic stereotypes in Nigeria?
Language serves as a vehicle for ethnic identity and prejudice, deepening divides when epithets are used. Research indicates that native languages carry stronger emotional weight, entrenching negative stereotypes against out-groups.
What methodology was employed to examine stereotypes among Nigerian ethnic groups?
The study utilized qualitative primary data through questionnaires and informal interviews within a purposively selected university community. The Adjective Check List, adapted from the Princeton Trilogy, identified salient stereotypes for different ethnicities.
| Stereotype | Reality |
|---|---|
| All Igbos are only interested in business. | Igbos are involved in various sectors including politics, literature, and education. |
| All Igbo women are light-skinned. | Igbo women come in various skin tones, including chocolate, ebony, and dark skin. |
| It's very expensive to marry an Igbo woman. | While Igbo weddings can be costly, there is always room for negotiation. |
| All Igbos have left their villages for Lagos. | Lagos is a melting pot, but Igbos still reside in their home states. |
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