Culture is the heartbeat of a people, a vibrant record woven from their traditions, beliefs, values, and everyday practices that define their identity. It’s more than just greetings, food, or festivals, it’s the lens through which a community sees the world, the stories they tell, the songs they sing, and the way they carry themselves through life’s joys and challenges.
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To me, culture is also about connection to ancestors, to the land, and to each other. It’s the unspoken rules that guide behavior, the shared laughter at a familiar joke, and the pride in preserving what makes a group unique. Beyond the visible elements like dance or attire, culture can also be the quiet resilience of a people, their adaptability, and the way they pass down wisdom through generations.
I’m from Benue State, Nigeria, and proudly belong to the Tiv tribe, an ethnic group known for its rich traditions and deep connection to agriculture and community. The Tiv way of life is rooted in the philosophy of eating and sharing with your brother, which emphasizes generosity and togetherness. Our culture is vibrant, from our storytelling to our crafts, but two aspects stand out to me, that's our famous Swange dance and our unapologetic love for meat.
The Swange dance is a cultural gem of the Tiv people, a rhythmic and expressive performance that captures our agility, strength, and connection to nature, it's often performed at festivals, weddings, or communal gatherings and i never seize to be amazed and lost in awe whenever i witness it. The dancers, adorned in our traditional black and white striped “anger” attire, move with grace and energy to the beat of drums, flutes, and gongs. The dance mimics the elegance of animals like the snake, reflecting our historical ties to the land and its creatures.
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When it comes to food, the Tiv are renowned for their love of meat specifically pork meat, this is a trait that defines our tiv culture. Whether it’s roasted pork, chicken, fish, or even more adventurous choices like bush rat or frogs, meat is the star of the Tiv table. Dishes like seasoned roasted meat are a staple, especially in evening markets across Benue. Our love for meat is so deep that a Tiv man is said to guard three things fiercely, his meat, his alcohol, and his woman,the idea of holding on to alcohol is sad though,well we still move ahead to important things.
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Our staples like pounded yam, turned swallow, or akpu are often paired with hearty soups like genger, but I’ll admit, our soups don’t always shine based my personal opinion though. As i mentioned, the Tiv prioritize meat and swallow over authentic soup preparations, which can feel basic compared to other cuisines.
This brings me to what I see as a shortcoming in Tiv culture, our soups could use more variety and finesse. While we have dishes like pawpaw soup, which is celebrated for its health benefits, our focus is often on the quantity of meat rather than the complexity of flavors in the meal. This is where I envy the Calabar people and their mastery of soups.
The Efik and Ibibio of Cross River State create masterpieces like afang, edikainkong, and egusi, which are rich with vegetables like ugu and waterleaf, and bursting with seafood and spices. Afang, with its blend of periwinkle, stockfish, and palm oil, is a symphony of flavors that I’d love to see the Tiv emulate. Their soups are not just food they’re medicine, balancing textures and tastes in a way that elevates every meal. I’d happily adopt the Calabar approach to soup making, learning to incorporate more veggies and spices into our dishes while keeping our beloved meat at the center.
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There’s another culture I admire and would love to practice, the Yoruba’s festival displays, particularly the Eyo Festival in Lagos. The Eyo masquerades, with their colorful costumes and elaborate performances, are a captivating blend of history, spirituality, and theater. The way the Yoruba celebrate with such grandeur and community involvement is something I’d love to experience firsthand, perhaps even joining in the procession to feel the energy of their cultural pride.
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Despite my critique of Tiv soups, I’m deeply proud of our culture. Our hospitality, our Swange dance, and our meat centric feasts reflect a people who value community, resilience, and celebration. If I could borrow a bit of Calabar’s soup expertise and Yoruba’s festival flair, I think we’d have a perfect blend of cultures. But at the end of the day, being Tiv means embracing our unique way of life,meat, dance, and all.