by Michelle Anama Abari | May 1, 2022 | Uncategorized
Everyone hopes to meet that one special person who will transform their lives for the best. We want to meet someone who lightens up our lives every time there is a contact. We want to feel special and loved in every relationship or situation-ship we find ourselves in. The quest for a companion has gotten so serious that people now go to dating sites or even dating apps to look for a partner. Don’t think Nigeria is left out in this quest, there are also dating apps for Nigeria and these dating apps have brought forth good results.
The search for true love and a soul mate or even just a companion has proven difficult for a lot of adults in Nigeria. But with these commendable dating apps for Nigeria, one can say that it has been fruitful. Some of these dating apps for Nigeria include…
1. Friendlite
This dating app was created back in 2012, and it is believed to be more than just a dating site, as its members can share photos, videos, blogs, play games with other members, and read the latest news. This site has an estimated amount of over 84,000 registered members with a daily visit of 9,000 members.
This site is user-friendly and it allows you to own your account and also decline or accept a friend request from any other user. It also allows you to select your preferred individual which leads to messaging because this site allows for messaging. This app is very secure and you can report any form of foul play and the rest is taken care of.
This app is very good and it is a good dating app for Nigeria because with these features above, why wouldn’t you want to choose this app as your top dating site and app? Choose this and be sure to have a great time on this site.
2. Halal Matchmaker on Twitter
This platform is a place to find love and companionship, especially for my people in the northern region of Nigeria. The meaning of halal can mean goodness or happiness.
This platform has a total of at least 64,000 followers and it helps individuals, especially those in the northern region of Nigeria, find their soul-mate. All you have to do is follow this account on Twitter and then you can see posts on this platform. You can also like, retweet, and even comment on this platform. You will be sure to find companionship on this platform.
3. Tinder
A lot of people abroad also make use of this dating app but it is also a dating app for Nigeria. This app works in a very simple way by displaying pictures of people near your location. It is another location-established best dating app in Nigeria with a simple outlook.
It is quite easy to navigate. On this app, you choose your match by swiping left and right after choosing your location. Swiping right means you agreed to a particular match and swiping left means the opposite. This app also allows you to message and view a user’s profile and see if this partner is good for you.
This app has over 2 million users in Nigeria, excluding those abroad. Just reading a few of these features, you will see that this is a very good dating app for Nigeria because once you find your match, you will see no reason to remain single!
4. Badoo
This is a social networking app as well as one of the free online dating apps in Nigeria. It has over 314 million registered users. It helps in connecting and networking with people living in your neighborhood.
This app is mostly for people looking for casual dating, although there are also testimonies of people who found their spouse on this app. It can be downloaded on the Apple store, Play store, and even on Windows OS. Like any other social networking app, you can block and report intruders on it.
You can view pictures and profiles of users, do live videos, and others. It is one of the best dating apps in Nigeria with free dating services that can be accessed.
5. Facebook
I’m very sure that you weren’t expecting to see this social media platform as one of the best dating apps for Nigeria, but it is. Facebook is many things, it’s a marketing platform, a social platform, and also a platform to find love! Did you know that at least 30% of couples in Nigeria found their other half on Facebook?! Crazy right? But that’s the truth and this social media app works tremendously well in the area of finding love.
Unlike most dating apps that have the feature of swiping left and right to reject or accept a user, Facebook’s feature is very simple. All you have to do is create an account and then you can start posting on your stories, posting on feeds for people to see what you post, accepting friend requests, wishing people happy birthday, and also deciding to reply to or decline messages from Facebook messenger. You can also join specific groups like Halal Matchmaking.
This app has at least 50 million registered users on it and at least 30% of these users are married and found their spouse online.
6. Instagram
Instagram, otherwise known as ‘the gram’ is also referred to by some people as a dating app, and not just any dating app, but a dating app for Nigeria. This app although very social has proved and given people the opportunity to find their life partner.
This app is not only for marketing and boosting your products but also for finding love and companionship in people, most people find their friends and lovers here, and just so you know this app has at least an estimated value of at least 40 million Nigerians, so why not use this social media platform to find your love? You can find love on this platform too.
Unsurprisingly, there are also platforms on this app that help you find love, like Northern Hibiscus or Halal Matchmaking.
Conclusion
I don’t know anyone close to me who found love on a dating site, but I have heard stories from mutual friends who found love on these dating sites. Everyone deserves love, and if you can’t find it the physical way (traditional) then you can find it digitally (modern).
The bottom line is you can find love online, and once you do find love, you can shape that relationship into whatever you guys want, you can even decide to set boundaries.
FAQs
Can I find real love online?
Yes, you can, you can find real love on a dating or social media platform.
What dating app is the best in Nigeria?
To be honest, there isn’t the best dating app. Although sites say that apps like Tinder, Badoo, and even Facebook are the best, you have to find the app that works best for you.
Are dating apps secure?
Yes, dating apps are secure. You can block and report an intruder and actions will be taken subsequently.
by Editorial Staff | Apr 8, 2022 | Fashion
The Fulani dress styles are very beautiful and well-recognized, just like the Hausa royal attires. The Fulani culture itself is a well-known diverse and rich one. The Fulani are a member of a pastoral and nomadic people of mixed African and Mediterranean ancestry with their unique Fulani dress styles. They are known to be migrants, always, mostly moving from one place to another.
The Fulani cultural attire is what is referred to as ‘Mudukare’ which is worn by the women. It is a sleeveless crop top worn with a wrapper, while the Fulani men usually put on a long sleeveless shirt, with shorts or some long trousers. The men put on a conical hat called a ‘Noppire’. The shirts the men wear have a particular pattern; the shirts have a geometric design and they are usually embroidered.
The Fulani dress styles consist of mostly cotton or sometimes they are made of leather. Both the men and women for the most part are known for their physical attractiveness. The pointed noses and long hair for the women and full hair for the men.
History of Dress Styles
Fulanis are also called ‘Peul’ in French or referred to as ‘Fulbe’. They are known to mostly practice Islam as their religion and are now scattered throughout many areas of West Africa. The Fulani mode of dressing depends on the region they come from and they are distinct from the Hausa tribe.
Some wear the typical white or black cotton material thread embroidered with red, green, and blue mostly in some parts of African countries like; Nigeria, Niger, and also Cameroon.
Whereas, in Central Guinea, the men are said to wear hats with colorful embroidery as their Fulani dress attire. Another mode of dressing comes from the Fulbe Wodabaabe; they are known for putting on long flowing embroidered robes or decorated robes which are said to be very colorful.
After listing the above, it is now a known fact that there are different regions with their different Fulani dress styles. Mostly when a child is born, the child is marked, given a tribal mark on his or her face, or, arms, or any part of their body.
Fulani Attire for Males
1. The Fulani dress attire for males consists of a sleeveless shirt with shorts that go below the knee, also known as three-quarter shorts.
2. They mostly have their hats which are multi-colored or plain, which is known as ‘Noppire’, and a stick that is usually held across their shoulders with their hands hanging over the stick.
Recently, Fulanis are associated with Hausas which are kind of overlapping the Fulani attire. It should be a known fact that Fulanis are different from Hausas and their attires differ as well.
After coming down to West Africa, the Fulanis embraced the Hausa culture but they still hold their culture and heritage in high regard.
Fulani Attire for Females
This is called the ‘Madukare’. As we are aware of how females love to adorn themselves almost everywhere, it is no different for the Fulbe ladies too.
They love to adorn their skin, the hand, arm, feet, and legs with henna, decorate their hair, and put on bangles, necklaces, and also earrings. The Fulani dress styles for females differs from the region and in West Africa; in Nigeria, the attire is a sleeveless crop top worn over a wrapper. It is embroidered with a red, blue, and green thread on white or black cotton. Though a lot of things are being modernized, some are made of blue cotton, dark blue to be precise.
Fulanis are known for their exquisite beauty, with their pointed noses and long, soft hair, both the males and females are mostly known for their long slender figures.
1. The female Fulanis decorate their hair with cowrie shells and beads.
2. Fulani women also adorn themselves with bracelets that are thick and which some may have engravings on them/
3. The female Fulani dress attire is put together with gold earrings, which are mostly twisted and referred to as ‘Dibi’
4. Also, they wear their Fulani dress attire with necklaces which are also handmade necklaces known as ‘Caaka’.
5. They usually adorn themselves with amulets known as ‘Lohol’.
6. The Fulani women love to wear beads around their waist.
Bottom line, they love jewelry and are known to always adorn their heads, hands, nose, ears, and waist. If you are to come across a Fulani lady and get the chance of marrying her, you will be one lucky man. The same goes for the females getting married to Fulani men.
Fulani Traditional Wedding Attire
The importance of a wedding is known to all. On this blissful occasion, both the bride and the groom all want to look their best by dressing and adorning themselves. The groom wears a sleeveless shirt with embroidery that differentiates him from the rest, with his shorts and his ‘Noppire’ hat. The women on the other hand wear their crop sleeveless tops which have recently been made longer to cover up the stomach.
The bride’s hair is adorned with big braids or any other known Fulani hairstyles and beads, silver coins, or cowrie shells. The bride’s hands, feet, and legs are designed with henna.
The bride wears gold bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. The bride’s waist is also adorned with beautiful beads. Also among the adornment is beautifying the bride’s forehead with beads.
The bride is expected to have a decorated calabash that is covered with a little colorful beaded bag to go along with her attire in one of the spectacular Fulani dress styles you can find.
Conclusion
Writing about the spectacular Fulani culture can absolutely fill up a lot of blank pages with new interesting facts about the beauty of the culture and the radiance that comes with it, especially the Fulani dress styles.
FAQs
What is the name of the Fulani men’s hat?
Noppire.
What is the covering of the calabash called?
Fai Fai
Are Fulanis Hausa people?
Fulanis are not Hausa people; they are a tribe with a beautiful culture. Coming down to the north and mixing up with the Hausa people led to the confusion that a Hausa person is also a Fulani person.
What do Fulbe people speak?
They speak Fulfulde.
Do Fulanis have a particular origin?
They are known to be nomads. They mostly come from the Middle East and North Africa, which they later spread all around West Africa.
by Abdulganiyu Ibrahim | Mar 20, 2022 | Uncategorized
I’m sure you’ll agree with me that Nigerian parents do an amazing job raising their children. As a result of the funny things Nigerian parents say to their children while raising them, one would say that they are the funniest parents on the planet. When a person utters such funny things, it’s a sign they were brought up by Nigerian parents.
One thing that fascinates me is how they all tell their children the same thing. It’s as if they all went to the same school where they learned what to say to their children at various times. If you think I’m being sarcastic, give a few Nigerian youngsters some of these phrases (the funniest thing Nigerian mothers say to their children) and see if they can’t connect.
Without wasting any time, let’s dive it them, shall we?
Funny Things Nigerian Parents Say
1. “How many times did I call you?”
This is one of the most preposterous questions that always come from my mother when she called my name, mostly three times; for an important conversation. She would be like ‘Ibraheem! Ibraheem!, Ibraheem! How many times did I call you? And as the crook that I was then, I would say ‘sorry I lost count’ (case close). However, as time passed, I got to realize that it might seem funny, but it was more of a strategy used to make sure that your attention is with her hundred percent.
2. “I did not kill my mother. I will not allow you to kill me!”
This is also one of the funniest things I grew up hearing from my mother. Oftentimes when I engage in rough play and she’s been calling on me to stop from the roar of her voice; like she would vomit her intestine out. Then the next thing would be, “I did not kill my mother, so I will not allow you to kill me”.
3. “Does the person that took first have two heads?”
This mostly was from my dad. Funny enough, it wasn’t as if I came last in the class oo. At times, I went home with a third or fourth position, feeling on top of the world. After showing the result sheet to him, expecting a pat on the back, ironically, I would be spatted on the face with; “How come you came fourth, and from your result, you are about twenty in the class, (then the almighty word) does the person that took first has two heads!”. Even though he would later praise and encourage me, I will not escape those words.
4. “Come and eat me”|
The first day that particular word oozed out from my mother’s mouth, I almost fell for it. On a misty morning when I was about five years old, I woke up famished, then I walked to the backyard where she was making the morning meal. However, with a change of face, I said unto her that I was hungry. As if she was expecting that from me, she stretched forward her arm and said, “Come and eat me”. But I should have known that she was only being sarcastic, hence I was so naive to understand. But as funny as it might sound, I moved close to her, held her arm, and was about to tug my teeth onto it when she yanked me a knock on the head.
E don do, I was about 5 years old then.
5. “Put it on my head”
This is another one of the funny things Nigerian parents say to their children. At first, I thought it was only my mother that used that word, but not until one day I was in one of my friend’s house, not long, his father returned from work and instructed my friend to go pack the foodstuff he had in his car. A few minutes later, he returned with some tubers of yam in his hands. Afterward, he asked his father where he should keep them. Where I was, I was already thinking what kind of question that was, until his father responded by saying, “Put it on my head, mehh!”
6. “Sorry for yourself”
Nigerian parents are highly amusing individuals whom we admire. They often suggest that we apologize when we wrong someone, but when you wrong them, and you say sorry, they respond by saying, “Sorry for yourself”.
7. “It is not me you are doing o, you are doing yourself!”
I remember when I was in High School, a few weeks before my external exam, I got myself a girlfriend which was taboo for our parents to know about. Then this particular night, I was having a phone conversation with her, so engrossed in it to the point I was caught off-guard by my father. However, he started yelling at me, reminding me of how unserious I was, that I would be having my external exam in a couple of weeks, and all I thought was left in my life was chasing girls around. Then there came the word; “It is not me you are doing oo, you are doing yourself, but know that if you fail this exam, that is the end for you, as I don’t have another money for another exam”. But unfortunately, I didn’t make my result, twice. So when he registered me for the GCE exam, I knew I didn’t do myself alone.
8. “Shey you want to beat me? Oya beat me na!”
Most times when your parents are beating you and you held on to their cane, they would leave the cane to you and would be like, ‘Shey you want to beat me ni, oya beat me na.’
9. “When I was your age, I was…”
They say, “When I was your age, I used to wake up at 4: 00. When I was your age, I was the best in my set. When I was your age, I did not think about having a girlfriend, all I think of was my studies; I only faced what my father sent me to school to do”. Those were the words of my father. But he will never tell me that he met my mother in his second year in college, my mother would.
Conclusion
A wave of nostalgia swept me back while penning the funny things my parents said to me then, as those have helped in shaping me into a disciplined being, and to a great length reminds me of the child of whom I am, which I believe it’s the same as others that were brought up by typical Nigerian parents.
Those were the little I could remember about the funny things my parents said to me, which is also common among our Nigerian parents. It would be nice you share a few of yours with us in the comment section below.
It may interest you to check out less stressful ways to deal with a difficult family member.
by Bello Abdullahi | Feb 3, 2022 | Archives
Gaskiya ta fi Kwabo, an ingenious northern newspaper, which arguably created the standard of contemporary Hausa writing, which mixed both the Hausa form of writing using Arabic letters known as Ajmi and the Roman form of writing in order to carry along to two kinds of literates in the colonial Hausa days.
Gaskiya Ta fi Kwabo is said to be a documentation of the Hausa people and the perspective they held regarding World War II. The newspaper became the longest indigenous language newspaper that existed in Nigeria.
What is the Meaning of Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo?
Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo, a term coined for a Hausa based newspaper and periodicals which means “Truth is worth more than Kobo”.
The concept of the newspaper started in 1936 when the government of Northern Nigeria wanted to find a better means of passing information and the newspaper was officially launched in January 1939 and immediately started publication right after, which was under the auspice of the Gaskiya corporation, which was earlier known as The North Regional Literature Agency (NORLA).
When Was Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo Founded
Gaskiya Ta fi Kwabo was founded in the late 1936, when the government overseeing Northern Nigeria was interested in ways to reach out to its citizens about their various activities. This became imminent when rumors began to spread around the country that the British colonial masters were intending to handover Nigeria to Hitler, who was on his world conquest.
To curb the wide spread of fear and rumors flying around the country, a suggested solution was to create a medium of disseminating information in a way that would be easily comprehendible by most citizens in the North, which was how Gaskiya Tafi Kwabo came about.
Gaskiya was important for providing information about World War II to Nigerians, and the stand the British were taking and planning to take in order to curb the tension that was consuming the minds of the populace.
The headquarters of the newspaper, was in Zaria which was where the Gaskiya Corporation was situated, and where the periodicals were also published. The paper played a great role in increasing the popularity of the war happenings and the effort the Government was putting towards the war effort during the early 1940s.
The first Editor of the news paper was Mallam Abubakar Imam Kagara, who was a well versed and incisive man and was just the perfect fit for the job. He did an almost perfect job that the newspaper, Gaskiya Ta fi Kwabo is argued now to have set a standard in Hausa writing; from spelling, to the grammar implored in the periodicals, as well as the style and vocabulary used.
The New Nigerian Corporation (now New Nigerian Development Corporation – NNDC), which was a company set to take over the management of companies and entities in Northern took over the management of the Newspaper in January 1966.
For How Long Did Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo Last?
Gaskiya Ta fi Kwabo has the longest life span of all indigenous language to have set up a newspaper outlet. It operated entirely in Hausa from 1939-1965, and in 1965, the Gaskiya corporation had an English version titled Nigerian Citizen. In 1966, after which the NNDC took over amongst many things changed the name to New Nigerian. In the sense of being purely a Hausa based newspaper, it lasted for over 26years before taking another form.
The NDDC set up a corresponding plant in the Southern part of the country in March, 1973, alongside that of Kaduna. They concurrently sold the newspaper in both Kaduna and Lagos which improved the wide distribution of the paper.
However, when 12 states were created in the North by the Federal Government in July 1967, possession and control of the company became that of the Northern states, and was temporarily under the Interim Common Services Agency (ICSA). The Federal Government in 1975 took full control of the company and was placed under the Federal Ministry of Information.
It is currently under the 19 Northern states as it was handed back to them in 2006.
Achievements and Success
Gaskiya Ta fi Kwabo has recorded tremendous success from its inception. Amongst them is the ability to reach a wide range of readership from the populace, thanks to the creative idea of introducing the Ajmi scripting of Hausa letters. Also, amongst their many achievements is the role they played in the Nationalistic fight.
Gaskiya Tafi Kwabo became a popular outlet to discuss contemporary issues, as was well utilized by one of the front liner Nationalist, Sa’adu Zungur, to mention a few and how it became an outlet to educate people.
It was also a landmark achievement through the successful establishment of the Gaskiya Tafi Kwabo, on the clear reason that it was the first attempt by the Government to set up a newspaper.
by Abdullahi Malumfashi | Oct 4, 2021 | Facts
Men mostly rule most northern kingdoms. The kingdom of Kumbwada is one exception. Only females can sit on the ancestral throne.
No one dared sit on the throne. The only ones who did so died mysteriously within weeks of ascending the throne.
Kumbwada is Located in Which state?
Kumbwada is located in Sabon Kabula in Munya Local Government Area of Niger state. The throne is situated in Dangunu Emirate Council. Kumbwada is an ancient town with a rich history.
The ancient city was conquered by Princess Magajiya Maimuna of Zaria two centuries ago. That is when the curse on male rulers started.
Why Men Can’t Rule in Kumbwada
When Maimuna left her brother in charge of Kumbwada as the ruler, he immediately fell sick and died within weeks. The same happened with another brother. That was when princess Magajiya decided to stay and rule herself. She reigned for 83 years.
Many believe this to be a curse placed on any man who dared sit on the throne. The mere thought of doing such is enough to cause great harm to one.
According to late Sheikh Aminudden Abubakar, a popular Islamic scholar in Kano and founder of the Da’awah Foundation; “Once there is evidence of the use of black magic in any situation, Islam considers it a deviation which must be reversed,”
This seems to be the only explanation in a region where it is alien to see females rule.
Who is the Current Queen of Kumbwada?
Hajiya Hadiza Ahmed is the current queen of the Kumbwada Kingdom. She has been on the throne for over 20 years.
Queen Hadiza, fondly called ‘Magjiyan Kumbwada ‘ by her subjects inherited the throne from her late grandmother, who reigned for 73 years. She died aged 113. That is quite impressive for a monarch in northern Nigeria.
Currently married, she, however, still discharges her marital duties.
I’m the chief here but I discharge my domestic duties as a wife and mother. However my husband knows his limits, royalty is royalty,” Magajiya was quoted to have said.
How The People of Kumbwada React to a Female Queen
The people of Kumbwada have no trouble accepting Hajiya Hadiza as a ruler. In fact, to many, it is a divine act that can’t be changed.
We can’t live without a leader, and the fact that any male rulers that ascend the throne die quickly and mysteriously while female rulers reign for many years makes our case a peculiar one. This is an exceptional situation none of us can change.
Musa Muhammad, the chief imam of Kumbwada
The queen performs all the duties normally entrusted to the male rulers. She settles disputes over farmlands and petty theft, and marital disputes. She doesn’t take lightly cases of domestic violence. The queen once threatened to imprison a man for beating his wife.
“Men sometimes say the women provoke them, so that is why they beat them,” she says. “I tell them that there’s no justification, whatever happens.”
This apparently worked, as there are no longer domestic abuse cases in Kumbwada.
The Heir Apparent to the Kumbwada Throne
Magajiya had five children, three of which are girls. It is widely believed that a queen becomes barren immediately after she ascends the throne. Now married to a businessman, Magajiya had 5 children from her previous marriage, three girls.
Idris, the oldest child, is also the heir apparent to the throne of Kumbwada. While her oldest son is still alive and pays his courtesy daily at the court, he has no intention of succeeding his mother.
“He won’t survive it”, his mother says.
Instead, the oldest daughter is always at her side, grooming her for the task ahead of her.
Magajiya also believed there had been a failure of leadership in Nigeria, specifically by men.
It’s my most ardent wish. I think the problems in Nigeria have become intractable. Let’s try a woman. Men have failed.
Conclusion
Even though the queen of Kumbwada is successful and well-loved by her citizen, she still has some regrets.
My only handicap is that I don’t have a Western education, because, in my time, people didn’t educate their daughters. I’m not educated in a modern way, but in the traditional way, I have wisdom in my dealings with people. I’m proud to say that it would be hard to find someone educated who could rule as well as I can.
The queen, currently in her late seventies, is still hale and going strong. What do you think of the ancient kingdom of Kumbwada? Tell me in the comments!
