The Tiv people of Nigeria are a major ethnic group mainly found in Benue State and nearby areas like Taraba and Nasarawa. With a population of over 6.5 million, they make up about 2.4% of Nigeria’s total population.
They speak the Tiv language and are known for farming crops like yams and millet. Tiv society is built around family lineages, with leadership traditionally in the hands of elders.
Their culture has colorful traditions such as the A’nger cloth and Kwagh-Hir performances. Though originally without kings, the Tor Tiv title was introduced during colonial times to represent their people.
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History And Origins Of The Tiv People
The Tiv people trace their roots to a man named Tiv, son of Takuruku. He is seen as the father of the Tiv. And stories about him are passed down through generations.
Linguists and anthropologists believe the Tiv are of Bantu origin. Long ago, they lived in the southeastern part of what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Their journey began in the Shaba (Katanga) region, having moved through the highlands of Cameroon before getting to Nigeria. “Our fathers came from Swem, a mystical homeland beyond the hills. From there, we crossed rivers and forests until we reached the land of yams.” Tiv oral tradition
This likely occurred in the 16th and 17th centuries, when the Tiv were searching for suitable land and safety. They found both in the Benue Valley. The Benue River’s rich land helped them grow crops and build a life.
However, the Tiv settled mainly in Benue State and parts of Nasarawa, Taraba, and Plateau. They lived in clans composed of large, extended families. Each clan could trace its line back to a shared ancestor.
Their system was based on family ties and shared responsibilities. They did not have kings or chiefs. Instead, the oldest male in each clan, called the Orya, led the people.
Decisions were made by talking things out. When the British came in the early 1900s, things changed. In 1948, they created the office of the Tor Tiv to rule the people. This was new to the Tiv, but they adapted. Yet, they still follow many of their customs, even with modern changes.
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Geographic Distribution And Demographics Of The Tiv People
The Tiv people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, with a population of over 6.5 million, contributing to about 2.4% of Nigeria’s total population.
They are mainly found in central Nigeria, especially in Benue State. Benue is considered the ancestral home of the Tiv. In Benue, they are the majority in Local Government Areas like:
- Tarkaa
- Makurdi
- Gwer East
- Gwer West
- Ukum
- Logo
- Konshisha
- Gboko
- Kwande
- Vandeikya
- Katsina Ala
- Guma
- Buruku
- Ushongo
Outside Benue, Tiv communities are also spread across nearby states. In Nasarawa State, they live in places like Doma, Lafia, and Awe. In Plateau State, they are found in Shendam, Wase, and Langtang South. In Taraba State, they live in towns such as Wukari, Bali, and Takum.
They are also present in parts of Cross River State, including Yala and Obudu. Many Tiv people now live in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, as well. The Tiv language is spoken by over 5.2 million people as of 2024. The language belongs to the Benue-Congo family and is spoken across all their settlements.
It connects Tiv people, even when they live far from their ancestral land. Outside Nigeria, the Tiv also live in Cameroon, mainly in the Manyu division. This area has about 20,000 Tiv people living in nearly 1,900 households. These communities in Cameroon still speak the Tiv language and follow their cultural traditions.
Social Structure Of The Tiv People
The Tiv people have a social structure based on the father’s family line. This system is called patrilineal descent. It means land, identity, and family ties pass from father to son.
All Tiv trace their roots back to a man named Tiv. He had two sons: Ichongo and Ipusu. These sons started the two main family lines. Each line is then split into smaller clans and groups. The smallest group is called an ipaven.
People in an ipaven live together in a village called a tar. Family ties are important in Tiv land. These ties decide who owns land, who solves problems, and who helps in times of need.
Families work together, but they can also join with others to form bigger support systems. This helped the Tiv people stay united and peaceful. Tiv people did not have chiefs in the past. Instead, older men called Orya led the community.
They earned respect through age and wisdom, not by birthright. The British changed this in 1948. They created a chief role called the Tor Tiv, which added a top leader to Tiv society. But the elder councils still play a big part today.
The British also stopped the old marriage system in 1927, having replaced it with bridewealth, which changed family ties and customs. Tiv people believe in sharing. A common saying is “ya na angbian,” which means “eat and share with your brother.”
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Culture, Traditions, And Symbols Of The Tiv People
One of the most unique parts of Tiv culture is the Kwagh-Hir theatre. It is a traditional show that uses puppets, music, dance, and stories to teach lessons. These performances talk about morals, history, and social issues.
The masks and puppets used in Kwagh-Hir represent spirits and old myths. They connect the people with their ancestors and the spirit world. The A’nger cloth is another notable symbol of Tiv identity.
It is a black-and-white striped fabric worn during big events like festivals and weddings. The stripes stand for opposites like good and evil or light and dark.
Festivals are very important to the Tiv culture. One of the biggest is the Ier Festival. It celebrates the yam harvest and shows the people’s strong farming roots. During festivals, people sing, dance, and eat together. Food also plays a big part in Tiv life. Pounded yam is a favorite dish and is served at special events.
Spiritual Beliefs And Religion Of The Tiv People
The Tiv people believe in a supreme god called Aondo, who created the world and everything in it. Although Aondo is respected as the source of life, he is not thought to take part in daily human affairs.
But the Tiv rely on spiritual forces and rituals to keep balance in their world. One of these forces is called Akombo. Akombo refers to spiritual powers that can bring either good or bad outcomes. They affect health, luck, and peace within the community.
Elders perform special rituals to control Akombo and keep the community safe. Another major belief is in Tsav. Tsav is described as witchcraft or a unique power, which can be used to heal or to harm. Because of this, people are careful about whom they trust.
Accusations of Tsav can lead to fear, rejection, or even violence. These beliefs help enforce moral behavior but also cause stress and suspicion among people. In Tiv belief, Ancestors are seen as the “living dead” who watch over their family.
While they don’t control daily life, elders speak to them through rituals and prayers to protect the community and fix spiritual problems. Rituals are part of Tiv’s everyday life. People offer kola nuts, yams, and palm wine to Aondo and the ancestors.
Elders also use ceremonies to remove curses and teach moral values. Many Tiv people now follow Christianity and Islam. But traditional beliefs still exist.
17 Facts About The TIV People Of Nigeria
Here are 17 facts about the Tiv people of Nigeria:
- The Tiv are a Bantu-speaking ethnic group believed to have migrated from southeastern Africa, passing through the Congo and Cameroon Mountains before settling in Nigeria’s Benue Valley around the 1600s to 1700s.
- The Tiv did not originally have a central king or ruler. Instead, leadership was based on clans and guided by respected elders called Orya.
- In the 1940s, the British colonial government created the Tor Tiv title, a paramount ruler position, to centralize authority among the Tiv people.
- With a population of over 6.5 million, the Tiv are one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, making up about 2.4% of the national population.
- The majority of Tiv people live in Benue State, where they dominate several areas, including Makurdi, Gboko, and Kwande.
- Outside Benue, Tiv communities are also found in Nasarawa, Taraba, Plateau, Cross River, Adamawa, Kaduna, and Abuja.
- Around 20,000 Tiv people also live in the Manyu Division of Cameroon, near the Nigerian border.
- The Tiv language is part of the Benue-Congo group and is spoken by over 5 million people in Nigeria and Cameroon.
- Tiv has an oral tradition but no old written script. The first written record of the language was made in 1854 by Sigismund Koelle.
- The Tiv social system is patrilineal and is divided into two major family groups: Ichongo (circumcised) and Ipusu (uncircumcised), which break down into smaller clans and families.
- Traditional Tiv leadership is based on seniority and wisdom, not on inheritance, making their system egalitarian and community-driven.
- The Tiv are known for wearing the A’nger cloth, a black-and-white striped fabric that represents cultural identity and pride.
- Kwagh-Hir is a traditional Tiv performance that uses puppets, masks, music, and dance to share stories, teach lessons, and entertain.
- Marriage among the Tiv includes different customs such as bride price, exchange marriages, and sometimes elopement, all meant to strengthen family ties.
- Traditional Tiv music uses instruments like the kakaki (a long trumpet), the indyer (a large wooden drum), and the agbande drums, especially during festivals and ceremonies.
- The Tiv mostly eat staple foods such as yams (often made into pounded yam), cassava, and beans, and they enjoy drinks like burukutu, a local beer made from grains.
- Traditionally, the Tiv believe in a supreme god called Aondo, as well as spiritual forces known as Akombo and Tsav, with elders leading rituals to keep peace and balance.