There are many common practices only Nigerians can relate to, and their aura and uniqueness often speak for themselves.
Have you ever wondered why Nigerians can be easily spotted in a crowd? In this article, we will show you why there is more to being a Nigerian than identity.
Despite the different cultures and traditions in the country, every Nigerian surprisingly understands certain practices and undefined conventions that are often associated with them.
These practices might seem strange to other countries, but as I said, Nigerians are unique.
That said, we have curated 5 common practices only Nigerians will understand.
So if you are not Nigerian and you fully understand these practices. Welcome! Nnọọ! kaabọ! Sannu da zuwa!
5 common practices only Nigerians understand
1. Love and Wedding
It’s ironic that once you reach a certain age, Nigerian parents expect you to be prepared for marriage and to have a husband already somewhere, even though it’s strictly prohibited to have a boyfriend under their roof.
This means that no matter how long you’ve been with your soul mate, you must keep it a secret until the appropriate time. After that stage is over, the next stage is wedding.
Every Nigerian knows that in Nigerian weddings, the union is between two communities rather than two individuals, and the celebration is massive.
A typical Nigerian is likely to have three wedding ceremonies: a traditional wedding, a court wedding, and a church/mosque wedding. All these three wedding rituals usually involve feasting, making it seem like a concert with free food.
2. Nigerian Rice
Even though the economy seems to be getting worse, rice is still one of the most common meals in many Nigerian homes. These grains can be prepared in different styles, and oftentimes, they always serve as they should.
In a typical Nigerian household, you begin the week with rice as a Sunday afternoon meal. But trust me, it is not the only time you will eat rice that week.
Also, for every occasion, including Christmas, marriages, and even burials, Jollof rice has always been the main course.
I mean, you can never go wrong with Nigerian Jollof rice. As Nigerians, we always expect this Jollof rice to be present at any celebration.
Read Also: The best way to cook Jollof rice
3. Excitement and expressions
As a Nigerian, there are so many things that we show expressions for. The first is for electricity.
For a country like Nigeria, with an unstable power supply, people tend to get super excited screaming when the electricity comes, especially after a heavy downpour.
Communication with facial expressions is another thing that Nigerians fully practice. Parents have largely relied on facial expressions (eyes, mouth) to communicate with their children in the presence of other people.
So, this practice has become a common trend among family members and close friends.
Lastly, Nigerians are very expressive in public. They are ready to fight and argue without thinking twice. This is why people often say that Nigerians are angry people.
Read Also: Top 10 Must Have Rules For Every Housemaid: Ultimate Guide
4. Spraying money
If you are a Nigerian and do not see naira notes falling from the sky, your celebration has not yet begun. Money spraying is a real practice that has become a requirement during ceremonies in Nigeria.
One thing about this practice is clear: spraying those fresh notes, especially on the dance floor, truly energizes whoever is dancing. Some people use it to show off, while others oppress others with their social or financial status.
However, some believe spraying cash on the celebrants’ faces is disrespectful and spiritually dangerous.
So, if you go to a wedding or ceremony and want to roll with the ‘big boys’, do well to bring cash because a Nigerian wedding is bland without it.
5. Respect for elders
In Nigeria, every individual you see that is older than you is considered your elder and should be respected whether or not you are related to each other. Nigerians hold social manners in high esteem, and the training starts from childhood.
In Nigeria, it is rude to say hello to an elder. You need to either bow, prostrate or squat. This is a practice that every Nigerian is subconsciously aware of.
This tradition is not limited to the number of times you have seen and interacted with these elders for that day.
Also, it is just common sense in Nigeria to help older people among us, technically being their messenger whether or not you approve.
Also, for some traditions, it is a lack of respect to use your left hand when giving an item to an older person, even if you are a leftie.
What do you think? Comment below other common practices that only Nigerians would understand.
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