📚 Tiv Culture Archive
Wisdom of the
Tiv People
Preserving Language • Culture • Heritage
Proverbs
“Tegh tegh hemba ayem.”
It’s better to take time to do something than to rush.
Proverb
“Tegh tegh hemba ayem.”
Read ›“Kokombo per sha jime nor.”
You tag uno someone to get out of trouble or bad situat
Proverb
“Kokombo per sha jime nor.”
Read ›“Mnenge hemba mtem.”
It’s better to try than to remain idle.
Proverb
“Mnenge hemba mtem.”
Read ›“Tokwa u purugh hembe u nahan ga.”
You may lose some but gain more.
Proverb
“Tokwa u purugh hembe u nahan ga.”
Read ›“Ka wea gba mnger u mor iyav.”
One is into something and there is no going back—encour
Proverb
“Ka wea gba mnger u mor iyav.”
Read ›“Wua u wanye kpa nor ye.”
Listening to a child can help adults. Children have use
Proverb
“Wua u wanye kpa nor ye.”
An elephant even eats a child’s guinea corn.…
Read ›“Ahi nga hie orapirashe atsenge ahar ga. …”
Don’t make the same mistake twice.
Proverb
“Ahi nga hie orapirashe atsenge ahar ga. Similar: o”
Read ›“Yan sha ikughul.”
Very close relationship.
Proverb
“Yan sha ikughul.”
Read ›“Nur akende.”
Display pride.
Proverb
“Nur akende.”
Read ›“Nur igundu.”
Act with pride.
Proverb
“Nur igundu.”
Read ›Tiv Names
Iti
Name
Tiv Name
Iti
Iti means name…
Read ›Ityowase
Helped / assisted by paternal kinsmen
Tiv Name
Ityowase
Cultural Beliefs: Maternal and Paternal Kinsmen…
Read ›Ityoyima
Saved / delivered by paternal kinsmen
Tiv Name
Ityoyima
Cultural Beliefs: Maternal and Paternal Kinsmen…
Read ›Ityohemba
None is as powerful / helpful as paternal kinsmen
Tiv Name
Ityohemba
Cultural Beliefs: Maternal and Paternal Kinsmen…
Read ›Aondowase
Helped / assisted by God
Tiv Name
Aondowase
Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…
Read ›Aondoyima
Saved / delivered by God
Tiv Name
Aondoyima
Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…
Read ›Aondohemba
None is as powerful / helpful as God
Tiv Name
Aondohemba
Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…
Read ›Teryima
Saved / delivered by God the Father
Tiv Name
Teryima
Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…
Read ›Terhemba
None is as powerful / helpful as God the Father
Tiv Name
Terhemba
Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…
Read ›Torwase
Helped / assisted by God the King of kings
Tiv Name
Torwase
Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…
Read ›Plants
Ahuma
Cowpea
Plant
Ahuma
Cowpea is a fast-growing legume crop widely grown in Africa (especially Nigeria)…
Read ›Vambe
Kapok tree, silk-cotton tree, white silk cotton tree, J
Plant
Vambe
Ceiba pentandra is a massive deciduous tree with a buttressed trunk, whorled umb…
Read ›Wuheniyou
African sensitive plant
Plant
Wuheniyou
This is a small, erect annual herb with touch-sensitive rosette leaves, brightly…
Read ›Atsaka
Sweet Potato
Plant
Atsaka
Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a creeping perennial vine grown for its starch…
Read ›Imo
Velvet bean, Cowitch, Cowhage, Monkey tamarind, Sea bea
Plant
Imo
Mucuna pruriens is a vigorous climbing legume with trifoliate leaves, long droop…
Read ›Mou
Cotton
Plant
Mou
Cotton (Gossypium spp.) consists of shrubby plants with lobed leaves, large yell…
Read ›Mgbelayongo
Spreading Hogweed, Red Spiderling, Tarvine, Wineflower,
Plant
Mgbelayongo
Punarnava is a creeping perennial herb with purplish, hairy stems, unequal oppos…
Read ›Malina
Gmelina, White Teak, Goomar Teak, Kashmir Tree
Plant
Malina
Gmelina arborea is a tall deciduous tree with a straight trunk, shedding pale ba…
Read ›Alum
Sweet Orange
Plant
Alum
The orange tree is an evergreen, spiny, small-to-medium tree with aromatic gloss…
Read ›Tampue
Cutleaf groundcherry, wild cape gooseberry
Plant
Tampue
Physalis angulata is an erect annual herb with lantern-like calyx-enclosed berri…
Read ›Festivals
Kyegh Sha Shwa
Kyegh Sha Shwa Cultural Festival
Festival
Kyegh Sha Shwa
An annual large-scale Tiv cultural gathering held in Makurdi. It celebrates Tiv …
Read ›Kwagh-Hir
Kwagh-Hir Puppet Festival
Festival
Kwagh-Hir
A renowned Tiv dramatic folk theatre tradition that uses puppets, marionettes, m…
Read ›Tiv Day
Tiv Day Celebration
Festival
Tiv Day
A major annual celebration that brings Tiv people together across Nigeria and th…
Read ›Ivom
Ivom Dance Festival
Festival
Ivom
A traditional Tiv festival centred on the Ivom dance. It promotes cultural renew…
Read ›Akata
Akata Fishing Festival
Festival
Akata
A traditional fishing festival held in Katsina-Ala that showcases local fishing …
Read ›Biem and Toho Yilan
Biem and Toho Yilan Hunting Festival
Festival
Biem and Toho Yilan
A traditional Tiv hunting festival involving both inter-clan hunting expeditions…
Read ›Nyinya
Nyinya Festival
Festival
Nyinya
A traditional celebration of affluence in which a person who acquires a horse — …
Read ›Iniongo i iyou mbi her
New Yam Festival
Festival
Iniongo i iyou mbi her
Annual harvest celebration marking the beginning of the new yam season.…
Read ›Foods
Ruam Kumen
Pounded Yam
Food
Ruam Kumen
The most popular Tiv staple food, made by pounding boiled yam until it becomes a…
Read ›Kyegh Sha Shwa
Chicken with Sesame Seed Sauce
Food
Kyegh Sha Shwa
A highly valued Tiv cultural dish made with chicken cooked in ground sesame seed…
Read ›Akpukpa
Bambara Nut or Bean Pudding
Food
Akpukpa
A Tiv delicacy prepared from bambara nuts or beans, often formed into a pudding …
Read ›Peto
Yam or Sweet Potato Pottage
Food
Peto
A hearty Tiv meal made by cooking yam or sweet potato together with palm oil and…
Read ›Pocho
Watery Traditional Sauce
Food
Pocho
A light, watery sauce commonly prepared with smoked fish or meat, pepper, and lo…
Read ›Genger
Genger Flower Bud Soup
Food
Genger
A popular Tiv soup made from the flower buds of the Genger tree. It has a distin…
Read ›Atuu
Okro Soup
Food
Atuu
A Tiv soup made primarily from okro. It has a characteristic slimy texture that …
Read ›Atyever
Vegetable Soup
Food
Atyever
A Tiv vegetable-based soup often prepared with nune (fermented locust beans) for…
Read ›Ibyer
Fermented Maize or Millet Pudding
Food
Ibyer
A fermented creamy pudding made from ground maize or millet. It is enjoyed as a …
Read ›Burukutu
Traditional Grain Beer
Food
Burukutu
A traditional alcoholic beverage brewed from guinea corn (sorghum) or millet. It…
Read ›Animals
Anyam
Leopard
Animal
Anyam
Wild predator; one of the most spiritually significant animals in Tiv culture. A…
Read ›Bagu
Monkey
Animal
Bagu
Wild primate associated with mystical transformation in Tiv belief. Also known a…
Read ›Bua
Tiv native cow / Cow
Animal
Bua
Domestic cattle; foundational animal in Tiv social and ritual economy. Also call…
Read ›Nyinya
Horse
Animal
Nyinya
Domestic animal associated with power, warfare, and mystical transport in Tiv tr…
Read ›Iywa
Dog
Animal
Iywa
Domestic/pet animal with exceptional spiritual perception in Tiv belief. Also re…
Read ›Apu
Vulture
Animal
Apu
Wild scavenging bird with deep mystical associations in Tiv religion.…
Read ›Avungu
Owl
Animal
Avungu
Wild nocturnal bird; primary Tiv symbol of the ancestors and the unseen world. A…
Read ›Gbev
Standard-winged nightjar
Animal
Gbev
Wild nocturnal bird linked to spiritual movement and witchcraft in Tiv belief.…
Read ›Swande
Violet turaco
Animal
Swande
Wild bird associated with spiritual sight and ritual transformation in Tiv cultu…
Read ›Akiki
Pearl-spotted owl
Animal
Akiki
Wild owl species with ancestral and mystical significance in Tiv religion.…
Read ›Meet the Team
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