10 Popular African Ethnic Groups
Zulu, South Africa
Zulu women cultural dance. Photo Credit: News24.com
Zulu is known to be the largest ethnic group in South Africa and has a population of over 12 million people. They speak the IsiZulu language and are renowned for their annual festival, King Shaka Day. It occurs every 24th day in the month of September to celebrate King Shaka kaSenzangakhona (1816–1828), the founder of the Zulu Kingdom.
Yoruba, Nigeria
Yoruba men at the Ojude Oba festival. Photo Credit: Pulse.ng
Yorubas are the most educated ethnic group in Nigeria, and they love to feast and celebrate. The Yoruba’s ethnicity is also home to the Benin and Togo regions and a uniquely established Yoruba village in America called Oyotunji African Village.
Swahili, Tanzania
Swahili traditional attire. Photo Credit: Polyglotgeek.com
Swahili are the people of the shore, whose language is influenced by many other languages such as Bantu, Arabic, Portuguese, German, Italian, French, etc. Swahilians can also be found in Kenya and Mozambique.
Igbo, Nigeria
A family portrait of an Igbo family in traditional attire. Photo Credit: Jerry Emeka Obi
Located in the southeastern part of the country, the Igbos are famous for their outstanding business acumen and industrious nature. This ethnic group makes up the largest population of business owners in Nigeria.
Maasai Kenya & Tanzania
Maasai tribesmen performing the Adumu. Photo Credit: https://www.nairobinationalparkkenya.com
Maasai people are identifiable by their performative 'high jumping dance' and long stretched ear lobes, which are a symbol of wisdom and respect. Also, the ethnic group is associated with the colour red. For them, the red colour symbolises bravery, unity, and blood.
Asante, Ghana
Ashanti couple. Photo Credit: Pinterest
Also called Ashanti, this ethnicity is known for the famous kente cloth and naming children based on the day of birth (a male child born on Monday is called Kwadwo or Kojo, and the female is called Adjoa or Adwoa). Asante people emerged from the Akan natives and speak the Twi language.
Hausa, Nigeria & Niger
The majority of Hausa people are Muslims, and Islam is central to their culture. Interestingly, the Hausa language spoken by the Hausa ethnic groups is a lingua franca and a language of trade in West Africa. The Hausa people have a booming agricultural heritage
Himba, Namibia
Himba women. Photo Credit: FreePik
The most identifiable feature of the Himba tribe is the bright red colour of their skin. The Himba ethnicity is one of Namibia's assets, as their cultural symbols dominate the entire country, though they make up just about two percent of Namibia's population. Himba people speak the Otjihimba language.
Karo, Ethiopia
Karo People. Photo Credit: Romina Facchi
Karo people are a small, populated ethnic group with about 1000 to 3000 people, but they are very influential. They are masters of body painting with items such as white chalk, yellow mineral rock, iron ore, and charcoal. The body paintings usually convey a message.
Xhosa, South Africa
Xhosa women. Photo Credit: https://www.southafrica.net/za/en/travel
Xhosa are the second-largest group in South Africa and have pockets of clans and tribes within them. Xhosa cuisine is one of the best indigenous and popular cuisines in South Africa. E.g., Mieliepap, a maize meal called Umngqusho, which tastes like Italian risotto, etc.
