African countries harbor a myriad of vast cultures whose exclusive aspects transform and define their nations. Nigeria is a country in West Africa with a one-of-a-kind collection of ethnic groups, business practices, and languages. The Kanuri culture, in particular, is a dominant culture occupying the country’s North-Eastern region. Nigerians have a strong entrepreneurial spirit and diverse business practices, especially the Kanuri people, whose family traditions and culture place them uniquely in the country’s social tapestry.
Nigeria is located in West Africa and is strategically north of the Gulf of Guinea. Its two largest cities are Abuja and Lagos, the former operating as its capital city. The nation is the second largest on the continent and traces its territorial origins to British colonial efforts in the 19th century (Aluko, 2018). Furthermore, there are approximately 250 ethnic groups, primarily the Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa (Aluko, 2018). Claims of corruption have in the past placed suspicion in the investors’ minds, making it particularly difficult to snare international investors. Nonetheless, business professionals and operators of small and medium enterprises have a unique business spirit that consistently meets global performance standards.
The Kanuri people trace their roots to an invasion by the Bulala in the fourteenth century, which forced them to move, settling in modern-day North-Eastern Nigeria. After establishing the Bornu Empire to the Southwest of Lake Chad, the Kanuri people gradually became the region’s most dominant and respected culture (Odede, 2022). Crops such as rice, corn, and millet are the Kanuri’s main food source (Ufua et al., 2020). Occasionally, they intersperse their vegetables with beef from the cattle they herd. The Kanuri language is their preferred mode of communication, and it is divided into two major dialects: Manga Kanuri and Yerwa Kanuri. One unique aspect of the language is its subject-object-verb placement, whose position and nominal modifiers occur simultaneously. For instance,’ Ngari’s Pot’ is expressed as ‘pot Ngari-of.’
Members of the Kanuri culture have an innate regal attitude reflected in their family traditions. Marriage rites are conducted simply under Islamic law, and particular importance is paid to the father, who is perceived as the giver and termed the ‘waliyyi’ (Al-Gazali, 2018). A minimum of a quarter dinar is expected as dowry, and the groom’s family expresses their love and adoration for the bride’s family by ensuring they arrive with excess amounts of presents, which they gift to the bride’s skin. Upon fixing the marriage date, the bride is not allowed to be seen in public or with her family members for an entire year as the marriage rites are concluded (Al-Gazali, 2018). These traditions uniquely set them apart from other sub-Saharan cultures.
Nigeria uses the Naira as its currency, divisible by 100 kobos and regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The nation’s economy is largely dependent on agriculture and the exploitation of its fossil fuels (Ufua et al., 2020). Business practices in the country are driven by its citizenry, who approach work with a resilient entrepreneurial attitude (Aluko, 2018). Moreover, respecting hierarchy is essential in each business interaction as it establishes good relationships with return customers. Most transactions are conducted in English, the national language, and people prefer face-to-face interaction to conduct business (Aluko, 2018). Uniquely, Nigerians prefer a phone call to text messaging when trying to accomplish their business goals. However, it is vital to screen and take time to scrutinize one’s partners before making any long-term commitments.
In conclusion, the Nigerian people, the Kanuri specifically, are a bustling and uniquely varied culture. Their peoples have an unmistakable regal attitude and reflect their roots in the Bornu Empire. Moreover, their language, family practices, and foods. Analyzing the country’s business practices reveals a hard-working nation whose citizens thrive on small and medium enterprises. The nation’s cultures make it strategically important to the social demographic of West Africa.
References
Al-Gazali, A. (2018). Kanuri wedding: Rituals on the wedding solemnization day. Yerba Express-News. Web.
Aluko, N. (2018). Business culture in Nigeria 101 – understanding & scaling up – KPAKPAKPA. Kpakpakpa. Web.
Odede, F. (2022). The origin of the Kanuri tribal mark. Pulse Nigeria. Web.
Ufua, D. E., Olujobi, O. J., Ogbari, M. E., Dada, J. A., & Edafe, O. D. (2020). Operations of Small and Medium Enterprises and the legal system in Nigeria. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 7(1). Web.