In this aspect we will be talking about the common believes and traditions in Nigeria but before that what are believes and traditions?

*BELIEF* is something that is accepted, considered to be true or held as an opinion. It can be be stated as a faith or trust in the reality of something and it's often based on one's reasoning. 

What's tradition? *TRADITION* is a part of a culture that is passed from person to person or generation to generation, possibly differing in detail from family to family. 

Having said all these, what are now the common believes and traditions in Nigeria? Let's talk about the dressing.

Women wear long flowing ropes and headscarves made by local makers who dye and weave the fabrics locally. Southern Nigerian women choose to wear western-style clothing. People in urban regions of Nigeria choose to dress in western style, the youth mainly wearing jeans and T-shirt. Other Nigerian men and women typically wear a traditional style called *BUBA*. For men the loose-fitting shirt goes down to half way down the thigh. For women, the loose-fitting blouse goes down a little below the waist. Other clothing gear includes the *GELE*, which is the women headgear. For men, their traditional cap is *FILA*. 

Historically, Nigerian fashion incorporated many different types of fabrics. Cotton has been used for over 500years of fabric-making in Nigeria. Silk (called *TSAMIYA* in Hausa, *SANYAN* in Yoruba, and akpa-obubu in Igbo) is also used. Perhaps the most popular fabric used in Nigerian fashion is Dutch wax print, produced in Netherlands. The import market for the fabric is dominated by the Dutch company Vlisco which has been selling it's Dutch wax print fabric to Nigerians since the late 1800s, when the fabric was sold along the company's oceanic trading route to Indonesia. Since then, Nigeria and the African patterns, color, schemes, and motif has been incorporated into Vlisco's designs to become a staple of the brand. 

Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups and as a result, a wide variety of traditional clothing styles. In Yoruba tradition, women wear an IRO (wrapper), *BUBA* (loose-shirt) and *GELE* (Head wrap). The men wear *BUBA* (long shirt), *SOKOTO* (baggy trousers), *AGBADA* (flowing ropes with wide sleeves) and FILA (a hat). In the Igbo tradition, the men's cultural attire is *ISIAGU* (a patterned shirt), which is worn with trousers and the traditional Igbo men's hat called *OKPU AGWU*. The women wear a puffed sleeve blouse, two wrappers and a headwrap. Hausa men wear *BARBARIGAS* or *KAFTANS* (long flowing gowns) with tall with tall decorated hats. The women wear wrappers and shirts and cover their heads with *HIJABS* (veils).

 Yoruba beliefs.

Yoruba is one of the numerous tribes in Nigeria.

This ethnic group, like every other ethnic group, are known for their religious as well as cultural belief and traditions some of which are funny and nothing but just myths and superstitions (if you ask me).

Anyway, here are 10 funny beliefs of Yoruba people

1. Pregnant women must attach safety pin to their clothes

Yorubas believe that it is wrong for a pregnant woman not to attach safety pins to her clothes. That way, she is merely inviting spirits to possess her unborn child.

The safety pin (like the name goes), sort of protects the foetus and keep it safe from the spirit roaming about.

2. It is wrong to play with an umbrella when it isn't raining

A person who plays with an umbrella when it isn't raining is only inviting a non-stop rain on his/her wedding day.

3. Do not whistle at night

When you whistle at night, you're simply calling on snakes and other reptiles into the house.

4. Egret gives white fingers

If you want white fingers, all you need to do is sing a song calling on egrets (leke leke) to give you white fingers.

5. A pregnant woman shouldn't walk under the sun

As believed by the Yorubas, when a pregnant woman walks under the sun (especially around 1 pm), she'll give birth to a disfigured child. So, pregnant women are advised to stay away from the sun.

6. Don't beat a male child with a broom

The Yorubas believe that when you beat a child with a broom, you'll render him impotent.

7. It's bad to drink coconut water

According to their belief, when a person drinks coconut water, the person will become dull.

8. Do not look at a mirror at night

According to the belief of the Yorubas, it is wrong to look at a mirror at night because, instead of seeing your reflection, you'll see a ghost.

9. A piece of thread can magically stop hiccups

This works well with infants, according to their belief. When an infant is experiencing hiccups, just put a piece of thread on the child's head to stop the hiccups.

10. Do not cross over a person and vice versa

If a person crosses over you, your offspring will look like that person except the person crosses over you back.

1. Urinating behind the latrine 

2. Wife sleeping next to the wall 

3. Keeping brooms behind the door 

4. When u get old, na witch you be

5. When you take a bath, they will ask if you are going somewhere

6. Reserving some spoons, cups and plates aside specially for visitors

7. Counting pieces of meat

8. No natural death in Africa..... your enemy is always the cause

9. Sweeping the whole compound when expecting a visitor.

10. Reserving a special seat for the husband.

11. If you wake up with scratch on your body, just know that witch don visit you.

12. Keeping an empty plastic water bottle for future use.

13. Looking left and right when crossing a one way road

14. When nepa take light u go check ur neighbors house to know if it's true (this one na for naija in particular.

15. When one is giving a microphone to talk they first blows air Inside it or tap it to know if it's working, (even when the person that gave it to them was using the same microphone)

16. Buying new clothes only on Christmas

17. It's a must that rice will be cooked on Sunday.

I love Africa.