Explore Tiv Culture

Iti

Name

Tiv Names

Iti

Iti means name…

Ityowase

Helped / assisted by paternal kinsmen

Tiv Names

Ityowase

Cultural Beliefs: Maternal and Paternal Kinsmen…

Ityoyima

Saved / delivered by paternal kinsmen

Tiv Names

Ityoyima

Cultural Beliefs: Maternal and Paternal Kinsmen…

Ityohemba

None is as powerful / helpful as paternal kinsmen

Tiv Names

Ityohemba

Cultural Beliefs: Maternal and Paternal Kinsmen…

Aondowase

Helped / assisted by God

Tiv Names

Aondowase

Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…

Aondoyima

Saved / delivered by God

Tiv Names

Aondoyima

Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…

Aondohemba

None is as powerful / helpful as God

Tiv Names

Aondohemba

Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…

Teryima

Saved / delivered by God the Father

Tiv Names

Teryima

Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…

Terhemba

None is as powerful / helpful as God the Father

Tiv Names

Terhemba

Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…

Torwase

Helped / assisted by God the King of kings

Tiv Names

Torwase

Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…

Toryima

Saved / delivered by God the King of kings

Tiv Names

Toryima

Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…

Torhemba

None is as powerful / helpful as God the King of kings

Tiv Names

Torhemba

Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…

📝

Proverbs

132

See all

Tegh tegh hemba ayem.

It’s better to take time to do something than to rush.

Proverbs

Tegh tegh hemba ayem.

It’s better to take time to do something than to rush.

Kokombo per sha jime nor.

You tag uno someone to get out of trouble or bad situat

Proverbs

Kokombo per sha jime nor.

You tag uno someone to get out of trouble or bad situations.

Mnenge hemba mtem.

It’s better to try than to remain idle.

Proverbs

Mnenge hemba mtem.

It’s better to try than to remain idle.

Tokwa u purugh hembe u nahan ga.

You may lose some but gain more.

Proverbs

Tokwa u purugh hembe u nahan ga.

You may lose some but gain more.

Ka wea gba mnger u mor iyav.

One is into something and there is no going back—encour

Proverbs

Ka wea gba mnger u mor iyav.

One is into something and there is no going back—encouraging words.

Wua u wanye kpa nor ye.

Listening to a child can help adults. Children have use

Proverbs

Wua u wanye kpa nor ye.

An elephant even eats a child’s guinea corn.…

Ahi nga hie orapirashe atsenge ahar ga. Si…

Don’t make the same mistake twice.

Proverbs

Ahi nga hie orapirashe atsenge ahar ga. Si…

Don’t make the same mistake twice.

Yan sha ikughul.

Very close relationship.

Proverbs

Yan sha ikughul.

Very close relationship.

Nur akende.

Display pride.

Proverbs

Nur akende.

Display pride.

Nur igundu.

Act with pride.

Proverbs

Nur igundu.

Act with pride.

Ta nombol kor. Watch your tongue.

Be careful what you say.

Proverbs

Ta nombol kor. Watch your tongue.

Be careful what you say.

Wa zwa takema.

Be careful how you speak or talk.

Proverbs

Wa zwa takema.

Be careful how you speak or talk.

🌿

Plants

102

See all

Ahuma

Cowpea

Vigna unguiculata

Plants

Ahuma

Cowpea is a fast-growing legume crop widely grown in Africa (especially Nigeria)…

Vambe

Kapok tree, silk-cotton tree, white silk cotton tree, J

Ceiba pentandra

Plants

Vambe

Ceiba pentandra is a massive deciduous tree with a buttressed trunk, whorled umb…

Wuheniyou

African sensitive plant

Biophytum petersianum

Plants

Wuheniyou

This is a small, erect annual herb with touch-sensitive rosette leaves, brightly…

Atsaka

Sweet Potato

Ipomoea batatas

Plants

Atsaka

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a creeping perennial vine grown for its starch…

Imo

Velvet bean, Cowitch, Cowhage, Monkey tamarind, Sea bea

Mucuna pruriens

Plants

Imo

Mucuna pruriens is a vigorous climbing legume with trifoliate leaves, long droop…

Mou

Cotton

Gossypium spp.

Plants

Mou

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) consists of shrubby plants with lobed leaves, large yell…

Mgbelayongo

Spreading Hogweed, Red Spiderling, Tarvine, Wineflower,

Boerhavia diffusa

Plants

Mgbelayongo

Punarnava is a creeping perennial herb with purplish, hairy stems, unequal oppos…

Malina

Gmelina, White Teak, Goomar Teak, Kashmir Tree

Gmelina arborea

Plants

Malina

Gmelina arborea is a tall deciduous tree with a straight trunk, shedding pale ba…

Alum

Sweet Orange

Citrus sinensis

Plants

Alum

The orange tree is an evergreen, spiny, small-to-medium tree with aromatic gloss…

Tampue

Cutleaf groundcherry, wild cape gooseberry

Physalis angulata

Plants

Tampue

Physalis angulata is an erect annual herb with lantern-like calyx-enclosed berri…

Ligom

Canthium, Thorny/Coastal/Shiny-leaved canthium.

Canthium spp

Plants

Ligom

Canthium species are thorny shrubs or small trees with opposite leaves, stiff su…

Lele

Henna or Mehndi

Lawsonia inermis

Plants

Lele

Lawsonia inermis is a glabrous, highly branched shrub or small tree (2–6 m tall)…

🎉

Festivals

See all

Kyegh Sha Shwa

Kyegh Sha Shwa Cultural Festival

December

Festivals

Kyegh Sha Shwa

An annual large-scale Tiv cultural gathering held in Makurdi. It celebrates Tiv …

Kwagh-Hir

Kwagh-Hir Puppet Festival

December – April

Festivals

Kwagh-Hir

A renowned Tiv dramatic folk theatre tradition that uses puppets, marionettes, m…

Tiv Day

Tiv Day Celebration

Annual

Festivals

Tiv Day

A major annual celebration that brings Tiv people together across Nigeria and th…

Not specifically fixed; held as communities decide

Ivom

Ivom Dance Festival

Festivals

Ivom

A traditional Tiv festival centred on the Ivom dance. It promotes cultural renew…

Akata

Akata Fishing Festival

March – May

Festivals

Akata

A traditional fishing festival held in Katsina-Ala that showcases local fishing …

Biem and Toho Yilan

Biem and Toho Yilan Hunting Festival

December – April

Festivals

Biem and Toho Yilan

A traditional Tiv hunting festival involving both inter-clan hunting expeditions…

Not specifically fixed; held when a horse is acquired

Nyinya

Nyinya Festival

Festivals

Nyinya

A traditional celebration of affluence in which a person who acquires a horse — …

August/September after the yam harvest

Iniongo i iyou mbi her

New Yam Festival

Festivals

Iniongo i iyou mbi her

Annual harvest celebration marking the beginning of the new yam season.…

🍲

Foods

See all

Ruam Kumen

Pounded Yam

Foods

Ruam Kumen

The most popular Tiv staple food, made by pounding boiled yam until it becomes a…

Kyegh Sha Shwa

Chicken with Sesame Seed Sauce

Foods

Kyegh Sha Shwa

A highly valued Tiv cultural dish made with chicken cooked in ground sesame seed…

Akpukpa

Bambara Nut or Bean Pudding

Foods

Akpukpa

A Tiv delicacy prepared from bambara nuts or beans, often formed into a pudding …

Peto

Yam or Sweet Potato Pottage

Foods

Peto

A hearty Tiv meal made by cooking yam or sweet potato together with palm oil and…

Pocho

Watery Traditional Sauce

Foods

Pocho

A light, watery sauce commonly prepared with smoked fish or meat, pepper, and lo…

Genger

Genger Flower Bud Soup

Foods

Genger

A popular Tiv soup made from the flower buds of the Genger tree. It has a distin…

Atuu

Okro Soup

Foods

Atuu

A Tiv soup made primarily from okro. It has a characteristic slimy texture that …

Atyever

Vegetable Soup

Foods

Atyever

A Tiv vegetable-based soup often prepared with nune (fermented locust beans) for…

Ibyer

Fermented Maize or Millet Pudding

Foods

Ibyer

A fermented creamy pudding made from ground maize or millet. It is enjoyed as a …

Burukutu

Traditional Grain Beer

Foods

Burukutu

A traditional alcoholic beverage brewed from guinea corn (sorghum) or millet. It…

Kuese

Bean Cakes

Foods

Kuese

Deep-fried bean cakes similar to akara. They are crispy on the outside and soft …

Igbough Ahi

Roasted or Boiled Bambara Nuts

Foods

Igbough Ahi

A simple traditional snack made from bambara nuts, either dry-roasted over fire …

💬

Dictionary

4,603

See all

ngu heen

live

Dictionary

ngu heen

live

ngu heen

lives

Dictionary

ngu heen

lives

u dondon

next door

adverb

Dictionary

u dondon

next door

kwagh nyion

ill

adjective

Dictionary

kwagh nyion

ill

lun

were

Dictionary

lun

were

soo

want

Dictionary

soo

want

man zar

drink

Dictionary

man zar

drink

ôron

read

Dictionary

ôron

read

pinen

ask

Dictionary

pinen

ask

sugh

greet

Dictionary

sugh

greet

ôô iyol

bathe

Dictionary

ôô iyol

bathe

kile

brush (teeth)

Dictionary

kile

brush (teeth)

🐾

Animals

See all

Anyam

Leopard

Animals

Anyam

Wild predator; one of the most spiritually significant animals in Tiv culture. A…

Bagu

Monkey

Animals

Bagu

Wild primate associated with mystical transformation in Tiv belief. Also known a…

Bua

Tiv native cow / Cow

Animals

Bua

Domestic cattle; foundational animal in Tiv social and ritual economy. Also call…

Nyinya

Horse

Animals

Nyinya

Domestic animal associated with power, warfare, and mystical transport in Tiv tr…

Iywa

Dog

Animals

Iywa

Domestic/pet animal with exceptional spiritual perception in Tiv belief. Also re…

Apu

Vulture

Animals

Apu

Wild scavenging bird with deep mystical associations in Tiv religion.…

Avungu

Owl

Animals

Avungu

Wild nocturnal bird; primary Tiv symbol of the ancestors and the unseen world. A…

Gbev

Standard-winged nightjar

Animals

Gbev

Wild nocturnal bird linked to spiritual movement and witchcraft in Tiv belief.…

Swande

Violet turaco

Animals

Swande

Wild bird associated with spiritual sight and ritual transformation in Tiv cultu…

Akiki

Pearl-spotted owl

Animals

Akiki

Wild owl species with ancestral and mystical significance in Tiv religion.…

Kpile

Barred owl

Animals

Kpile

Wild owl species used in spiritual symbolism and ancestral rites among the Tiv.…

Mtsaan

African scops owl

Animals

Mtsaan

Wild owl species connected with spirits and mystical mediation. Also called Mits…