Nigeria–Language

[wpspoiler name=”Another language of Nigeria–talking drum” open=”true” style=”aatw-video”][/wpspoiler]

There are 510 living languages in Nigeria, but in music class we actually try our hand at one of them: Yoruba.

Unlike Nigeria’s other main ethnic groups, the Igbo, most of whom are Christians (although some claim the Igbo once were, and still may be, Jews), and the Hausa, most of whom have been Muslim since the 11th century, some Yoruba, while also practicing Islam and Christianity, maintain close connections to their ancient polytheistic religion. Yoruba beliefs spread to the West via the slave trade and form the basis of several religions, such as Cuban Santeria and Haitian voudo.