The Effect of Urbanisation on Nomadic Culture in Nigeria: A Review of Benue State

This study is on the effect of urbanization on nomadic culture in Nigeria with a focus on Benue State. Urbanization is a dynamic set of processes, responding to changing values and perceptions of the intrinsic characteristics of rural versus urban areas culture encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage, music and is different all over the world. Humans acquire culture through the learning processes of enculturation and socialization, which is shown by the diversity of cultures across societies. Nomadism is the way of life of peoples who do not live continually in the same place but move cyclically or periodically and it encompasses three general types: nomadic hunters and gatherers, pastoral nomads, and tinker or trader nomads. As its mixed-methodology, qquantitative and qualitative techniques will be adopted for the study to explore the effects of urbanization on nomads in Benue state. Findings indicated that majority of respondents had encountered nomads and their encounter was either peaceful or aggressive, urbanization has a negative impact on culture and has affected the way and manner land is being used for agricultural purpose, culture of nomads Benue state as well as a factor leading to constant violence involving nomads and residents in Benue state. Urbanization has affected various aspects of the nomadic culture such as migration patterns, grazing and pastoralism, irrigation and access to water, agriculture and land use as well as perception.