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  • Writer's pictureUhuru-Zem

3 Tribes In Nigeria That Still Wear Leaves As Clothes



It would be very hard to believe that there are still some parts of the world that have not accepted humanity in their life and culture, seeing how long Nigeria has existed in civilization.


Like the pre-colonial era, the way these tribes live is very primitive; they don't wear regular clothes but use plant leaves as their clothes.


1. Koma

The Koma people are one of the tribes that, even in the twenty-first century, maintained their primitive life. The Alantika Mountains are considered to be inhabited, spanning the boundary between the southeast of Yola, Nigeria's capital of Adamawa State, and Northern Cameroon.






In July 2010, the Nigerian newspaper The Spectator reported that these wonderful people we


In 1961, they were officially recognized as Nigerians and now have 17 Nigerian-side villages. In these hills, the Koma individuals hideaway, freely jumping around n* kd or near-n* kd in plant leaves and loincloths.


With fire made from flint, they cook. Most of the Koma hill-dwellers are known to rely on farming, hunting and collecting forest products used for body lubrication such as bananas, locust beans and canarium. On ceremonial occasions, from the Fulani, Bata,


Chamba and other tribes in the lowlands, they buy farming equipment and scarce clothing pieces used by men. When boys and girls turn 14 and 17, all are subjected to puberty rituals ( circumcision for boys and extraction of two of the incisors for girls).


Before making their conjugal intentions known to their parents with mutual token gifts, a farm or garden plot functions, they are then free to communicate. If permitted, with goats, chickens, and some token cash of about two Naira, the man pays the bride price.


In a supreme being called Zum or Nu, the Koma people believe. Some international NGOs are reportedly working with the communities to help conserve the culture of Koma and encourage tourism.


2. Kambari

Another odd tribe now living primitively in Nigeria is the Kambari people. Situated in Birnin Amina in Rijau Local Government Area in Niger State, they are an ancient rural group.


They still boast that the government does not need them to live a wonderful life.


When they have to go and sell their farm produce (corn, millet, peanuts, beans, and rice) on the market, they just cover the lower half of their bodies with wrappers.


They still strongly maintain that they are on their own; they strongly believe in their beliefs and practices, and they do not need any religion or government to come and change them.


It is said that their god is known as Migaro, and they believe they lack nothing because their God protects them. As their main means of transport, they use donkeys.


They do not speak English or Hausa in this remote village but instead speak their native language, Kambari. Traditionally, Kambari men marry up to four wives and they have to make sure their wives are equally well taken care of.


The parents of the bride slaughter goats and cows and cook for the groom until a spouse is selected.


While the wealthier ones have horses, most people keep chickens and goats. As soon as the food is consumed, the marriage becomes legal. The Kambari people also believe in witchcraft and magic, apart from adoring their god.


3. Jibu

Another primitive tribe based in the Gashaka Local Government Area of the State of Taraba is the Jibu tribe.


A Nigerian journalist named Stephen Osu is said to have uncovered these individuals. He finds these descendants of the Kwararafa Kingdom scattered across the mountains in the Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State, after a nine-hour mountain climb.


They live n* kd, opting to cover leaves in some areas of their bodies.


They use these leaves and grass to cover their bed, a bamboo pad. They drink water from the same sources that animals do as well. They practice the collective circumcision of boys born within the same age group, using sharp objects to perform this ceremony.


The young Jibu man must serve his bride's family for five years in order to get a wife. Within this time, the wife to be must also conceive. If the woman does not get pregnant, then the gods are considered to be against the marriage.


So what do you have to say about this?


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