13 Interesting Facts About the People of Mambilla Ethnic Group in Nigeria

This article will give you 13 Interesting Facts About the People of Mambilla Ethnic Group in Nigeria. The Mambilla people form part of Nigeria’s ethnic group. They are a minor group but it does not mean they do not have unique cultures and beliefs.

13 Interesting Facts About the People of Mambilla Ethnic Group in Nigeria

It is pertinent to learn about an ethnic group so as to appreciate the people more as well as to understand them. You will get to learn about some of their lifestyles, the state they reside in as well as other intriguing factors.

13 Interesting Facts About the People of Mambilla Ethnic Group in Nigeria

The following are interesting facts about the people of Mambilla ethnic group in Nigeria as well as factors about their resident state.

1. Resident State

The Mambilla people reside in Taraba State of Nigeria. Taraba state is one of the 36 states of the country and it is home to different ethnic groups.

2. Name Etymology

The ethnic group’s name is spelt in two ways. Some of the people reside on the Cameroon side of the international border. Those who reside there are spelt as Mambila while Nigerians are Mambilla. The people also use “Norr in the Nigerian dialect.

3. History is One of the Interesting Facts About the People of Mambilla Ethnic Group 

Records show that the Mambilla were members of the original Bantu language dispersion which was 2000 years ago. Little history is actually known about this people beyond this fact. Few stories have however been told about them that have survived generations.

4. Occupation

The people are predominantly farmers. They base their economy on producing cereal crops, including sorghum, millet, rice, and maize. The people also grow yams, groundnuts, bananas, pumpkins, pepper and also other small crops. They are also keepers of domestic animals.

The Mambilla people also trade with the Fulani people for milk when the latter comes to their territory with their cattle. Some of them are also hunters and fishermen. Farming is not reduced to any specific gender.

5. Lifestyle

When it comes to labour, the men and women involve themselves actively in it. They share the labour of clearing land, planting, cultivating, harvesting as well as making pipes for smoking. They give only specific tasks to the men like blacksmithing, woodworking, terra cotta sculptures, braiding fibre and also weaving cotton.

The men pass down their trade to their sons. In the case where they have no sons, they pass it down to their daughters. Women involve themselves in making basketry as well as taking care of their children. The children are not given the permission to work until they are twelve.

6. Village System is Among the Interesting Facts About the People of Mambilla Ethnic Group 

The Mambila people live in villages. Their houses are in small sizes and they are normally local family hamlets. Usually, after marriage, there is the establishment of new homesteads near the husband’s father’s hamlets.

7. Relationships

The Mambila people believe in the union of Marriage. They use to practice a system of marriage exchange traditionally but not anymore. The people accept polygamy although most men have one wife.

The people are also very friendly people. They trade with their neighbours like the Fulanis. They also interact with their neighbours.

8. Local Government Area

Though the Mambilla are not only found in Nigeria, they have a local government area in Taraba state where they reside. The people reside in the Sardauna local government area of Taraba State.

9. Language is Also an Interesting Facts About the People of Mambilla Ethnic Group 

The people speak the Mambilla language. The language is actually a congeries of dialects as well as related languages. The Tungbo Dialect which is also the Common Mambila is the most widely understood Mambilla dialect in Nigeria. There are lots of Mambiloid languages some of which are Nigerian dialects while others are of Cameroonian descent.

10. Culture

The Mambila people of Nigeria, as well as Cameroon, share similar cultures. They practice a conjunction of masquerades as well as oath-taking which they call “Suu”, “Shua”. “Sua”, or “Shuaga”. The people also celebrate the Tawong festival. It is a biannual dance that takes place in June or July and also in November or December. The festival is to allow unmarried people to experiment sexually.

The people also celebrate festivities in relation to the planting of crops. The men travel from village to village for different festivities like dance and sports. They also form friendships during the festivities. The people also wear masks during some of the festivals.

11. Religion

The Mambila people practice different religions. Today, they are either Christians or they practice Islam. They practice these two religion alongside their indigenous religion with the inclusion of divination, witchcraft as well as rituals.

12. Art is One of the Interesting Facts About the People of Mambilla Ethnic Group

The Mambila people are rich in arts. They have art like the Tadep figures to honour their ancestors. The tadep figures also personify a healing spirit as well as protection from thieves. They also believe the Tadep figure encourages fertility.

13. Leadership

The Mambila people in Nigeria leadership is mostly informal. Hereditary headmen form a council of elders in each community. The chiefs have ritual authority but they do not have political authority. Leadership also composes of a secret masking society. The society has men who contribute to the social order via their initiation as well as public education roles.

Conclusion

These are facts about the Mambila people group in Nigeria. They are not only residents of Nigeria but also of Cameroon. These facts will help you to learn about the people and also understand their culture.

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