Despite the fact that the Bade people who live in Nigeria number more than 650 thousand people, hardly anyone has ever heard of them. When people hear this name for the first time, people shrug their shoulders in surprise, because they do not know the meaning of the word "bade" at all. We are more than sure that you are hearing it for the first time. In this article we will try to tell a little about this people living in Nigeria. But before that, let's take a short virtual tour of this country.
Nigeria is the most populous state in Africa
The population of this country in 2013 is 174 million people. In addition, it is a multi-ethnic state, and more than 250 ethnic groups and nationalities live here next to each other. I would like to say that it is peaceful and in a friendly atmosphere, but this is by no means the case. Every year, many people die here who become victims of interethnic conflicts. The largest ethnic groups are Hausa-Fulani (30%), Yoruba (20%), Igbo (19%) and others. howyou see, there are no Bade people among them, because for Nigeria, which is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, the number of 650 thousand is like a drop in the ocean.
Is Bade a people or an ethnic group?
By the way, the name of this people is pronounced differently: bede, bode, etc. Its representatives are very proud of their roots, language, culture, traditions and customs and try to observe them. Despite their small number, bade is a people. Its representatives live near the city of Nafada, as well as along the Gongola River. Their villages are compact and consist of adobe houses with flat roofs. The language they speak is also called bade. This is a tonal language. Here, each symbol has a corresponding tone: low, falling, high and rising. There are also dialects: southern, eastern and western. Recently, due to assimilation among the people, the Hausa language has leaked.
Main activities
Bade are mostly farmers. They are engaged in the cultivation of various crops: corn, millet, cotton, peanuts, etc. However, among them you can also meet weavers, tanners, blacksmiths and fishermen. They eat dairy, poultry, fish, and vegetables.
History
The first mention of this people are found in the 14th century. The legend says that once these people lived in the city of Kanem, but they left this place and moved to the banks of the Gongola, where they still live. Like many peoples of Africa, the bade have their own cults, but today the majority of thembelongs to the Muslim faith.
Conclusion
This small nation certainly deserves great respect, as it has been able to maintain its identity, language and customs for many centuries.
