Lagos's energy
A sprawling megacity of music, fashion, business and nightlife that never really sleeps.
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Country book · Middle East & Africa
Nigeria
Africa's biggest economy and its loudest cultural export
Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and its cultural powerhouse — Nollywood outproduces Hollywood in film volume, and Afrobeats has become one of the world's dominant music genres. This book is Nigeria as it is now — the people, the truths, the myths, the food and the cities driving it.
Myths
What's true, what isn't
Actually true
It really is Africa's largest economy and most populous nation
Nigeria has over 200 million people and consistently ranks as the continent's largest or second-largest economy.
Nollywood really does outproduce Hollywood in film count
Nigeria's film industry releases thousands of films a year, making it one of the largest film industries by volume worldwide.
Afrobeats genuinely dominates global charts
Artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid and Davido regularly top international charts and sell out arenas worldwide.
It has over 500 languages
Nigeria is one of the most linguistically diverse countries on Earth, with Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo among the largest.
Commonly believed, wrong
"Nigeria is one homogeneous culture"
Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups; Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa cultures alone differ enormously in food, religion and language.
"It's mostly desert or jungle"
Nigeria has coastal mangroves, tropical rainforest, savannah and semi-arid Sahel, spanning huge climate variety north to south.
"Lagos is the capital"
Abuja has been the official capital since 1991; Lagos remains the commercial and cultural capital instead.
"Everyone is the same religion"
Nigeria is roughly split between Muslims, concentrated in the north, and Christians, concentrated in the south, alongside indigenous faiths.
Highlights
The best of Nigeria
Zuma Rock
A 725-metre monolith looming over the approach to Abuja, considered a natural icon of the country.
Yankari National Park
Warm springs and savannah wildlife including elephants, in one of West Africa's oldest reserves.
Afrobeats and Nollywood culture
Live music venues, film sets and a creative industry setting cultural trends across the continent.
Culture
Cultural riches
Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa traditions
Three major cultural blocs with distinct festivals, textiles, music and cuisines.
Nollywood
A film industry built on fast, low-budget production that became a continental cultural force.
Afrobeat and Afrobeats music
Fela Kuti's political Afrobeat gave rise to today's global Afrobeats pop wave.
Ancient Benin and Ife bronzes
The Kingdom of Benin's bronze casting tradition produced some of Africa's most celebrated historic art.
Food
What to eat
Jollof rice
Nigeria's version of the West African classic, smoky tomato rice at the centre of every party.
Egusi soup
A thick ground melon-seed soup with leafy greens and meat, eaten with pounded yam or fufu.
Suya
Skewered beef coated in a spicy peanut-based yaji spice mix, sold from roadside grills at night.
Pounded yam
Smooth, stretchy yam dough, the classic pairing for rich soups across southern Nigeria.
Akara
Deep-fried black-eyed pea fritters, a common breakfast street food with roots in Yoruba cuisine.
Music
World-famous voices
Burna Boy
Afro-fusion's Grammy-winning giant.
Wizkid
Afrobeats to Madison Square Garden.
Fela Kuti
The creator of Afrobeat.
Davido
Afrobeats hitmaker.
Tems
The voice on everyone's global collaborations.
History
Important people in history
Nnamdi Azikiwe
1963–1966
Nigeria's first president after independence and a leading figure of anti-colonial nationalism.
Olusegun Obasanjo
1976–1979, 1999–2007
Military and later civilian president who oversaw Nigeria's return to democracy.
Fela Kuti
Cultural icon, d. 1997
Musician and activist who created Afrobeat and became a symbol of political resistance.
Cities
Most popular cities
Lagos
Commercial and cultural megacity, home to Afrobeats and Nollywood.
Open the city book →
Abuja
Planned modern capital with wide boulevards and Zuma Rock nearby.
Kano
Ancient walled Hausa city and centre of northern trade and craft.
Ibadan
One of West Africa's oldest and largest indigenous cities.
Calabar
Coastal city known for its carnival and colonial-era architecture.