Tiv Music

and "kakaki" amongs many others. There are many types of dances in Tivland. Popular Tiv dances include: Swange, Kwagh-hir, Ijov-mbakugh, Ingyough, Kpingi, Takera, Dasenda, Hinga, Tsue-tsela, Ibyumev, Ange, etc. Jude Terna Kur and Nicholas Sesugh Iwokwagh wrote that "traditional Tiv music and dance provide information (though not as rapid, swift and spontaneous as modern means of communication) which contributes to the socio-economic and political development in Tiv society. This information takes the form of education and mobilization of the people. The information is relevant to the people because of the popularity of traditional music and dance among the people. Similarly, the problems of low credibility and information and technological gaps associated with modern means of communication give an added advantage to acceptability and popularity of traditional Tiv music and dance in Tiv society. Traditional Tiv musicians and dancers seize the opportunity of the acceptability and popularity of the music and dance to send across to the people information on social, economic and political affairs that directly and indirectly affect their lives." Tiv are an ethno-linguistic group or ethnic nation in West Africa; they can be found along 6°30′ to 8°00′ N and from 8°00′ E to 10°00′ E. They constitute approximately 2.5% of Nigeria's total population, and number over 5.6 million individuals throughout Nigeria and Cameroon. The Tiv's traditional language is spoken by over 6 million people in Nigeria, with a few speakers in Cameroon. Most of the language's Nigerian speakers are found in Benue State of Nigeria. The language is also widely spoken in the Nigerian States of Plateau, Taraba, Nasarawa as well as the FCT Abuja.