Sources & Limitations
Transparency is fundamental to this project. This page documents our data sources, methodology, confidence levels, and the limitations of our map.
1 Data Sources
Architectural Heritage Surveys — Nigerian Building Traditions
Academic- Publisher:
- Academic (compiled)
Compiled architectural surveys and heritage documentation on traditional Nigerian building traditions.
COD-AB Nigeria
Open- Publisher:
- OCHA/HDX
Common Operational Dataset - Administrative Boundaries for Nigeria. National and state boundaries.
Danfulani (1999) - Hausa Animism Studies
Academic- Publisher:
- Academic (Danfulani, 1999)
- Vintage:
- January 1999
Academic studies on Maguzawa religious practices and Bori spirit traditions.
Ethnomusicological Research — Nigerian Musical Heritage
Academic- Publisher:
- Academic (compiled)
Compiled ethnomusicological research on Nigerian musical traditions, instrument-making, and performance heritage sites.
Harvard RLP - Transatlantic Slave Trade (Nigeria)
Academic- Publisher:
- Harvard Divinity School
Religious Literacy Project overview of the transatlantic and trans-Saharan slave trade in Nigeria.
JoinBody Ethnicity Polygons v0.1
Pending (CC BY 4.0 / CC0 / ODbL)- Publisher:
- JoinBody
- Vintage:
- January 2026
Original ethnicity region polygons authored by JoinBody. Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo only. All boundaries labeled as approximate.
Kano Chronicle
Public Domain- Publisher:
- Historical Record
Historical record of Kano kings and events. One of the most important Hausa written histories.
NASADEM
Pending confirmation- Publisher:
- NASA/JPL
- Vintage:
- February 2020
Digital Elevation Model providing terrain data at 1 arc-second (~30m) resolution. Primary source for contour generation.
National Commission for Museums and Monuments (Nigeria)
Government- Publisher:
- Federal Republic of Nigeria
- URL:
- https://ncmm.gov.ng/
Federal body responsible for heritage sites, museums, and traditional monuments in Nigeria.
Nigerian Conservation Research
Academic- Publisher:
- Academic (compiled)
Compiled conservation and environmental research on Nigerian ecological heritage sites.
Nigerian Food Heritage Documentation
Academic- Publisher:
- Academic (compiled)
Compiled ethnographic research on traditional Nigerian culinary traditions and agricultural heritage.
Nigerian Governance & Philosophy Research
Academic- Publisher:
- Academic (compiled)
Compiled research on traditional Nigerian governance systems, justice philosophy, and moral institutions.
Nigerian Trade History Documentation
Academic- Publisher:
- Academic (compiled)
Compiled historical and archaeological documentation on pre-colonial Nigerian trade systems and currency.
Nnadiebube Journal of Philosophy - Igbo Gods and Goddesses
Academic- Publisher:
- Academic (Kanu, 2018)
- Vintage:
- January 2018
Academic paper by Ikechukwu Anthony Kanu (2018) on Igbo-African deities and their worship sites.
Oonirisa.org - History of Ile-Ife
Cultural Institution- Publisher:
- House of Oduduwa
Official Ooni of Ife cultural reference documenting Ile-Ife sacred sites and Yoruba cosmology.
Oxford Research Encyclopedia - Bori Religion
Academic- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Academic reference on Bori religious tradition in West Africa.
Thurstan Shaw Archaeological Record
Academic- Publisher:
- Academic (Shaw, 1970)
- Vintage:
- January 1970
Published excavation records from Igbo-Ukwu (Shaw, 1970). Bronze artifacts dated to 9th century CE.
UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Open- Publisher:
- UNESCO
UNESCO official listings and tentative lists for Nigeria. Primary source for world heritage sites.
2 Methodology
terrain Layer
Terrain contours are generated from NASADEM digital elevation data at 100m intervals, simplified for visual clarity.
boundaries Layer
Administrative boundaries are sourced from the OCHA Common Operational Dataset (COD-AB) for Nigeria.
ethnicity Layer
Ethnicity regions are original JoinBody polygons based on compiled research. Only Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo have hard boundaries; all others are labeled as approximate.
heritage Layer
Heritage sites are curated from UNESCO, national heritage lists, and academic sources. Each site includes confidence and sensitivity labels.
monarchy Layer
Traditional ruler seats include first-class and select state-recognized institutions. Locations are approximate and do not represent a complete census.
ports Layer
Trans-Atlantic ports are based on historical documentation. This layer exists for remembrance and education.
mythology Layer
Mythology seats are sacred sites associated with traditional Nigerian deities (Orisha, Alusi, etc.). Locations compiled from academic research and oral traditions.
cosmology Layer
Cosmology seats represent sites connected to indigenous belief systems (Chi, Ala, etc.). Curated from ethnographic research with community input.
technology Layer
Technology seats represent sites of traditional craft and manufacturing heritage (ironworking, weaving, dyeing). Curated from ethnographic and industrial archaeology research.
religion Layer
Religion sites represent locations associated with traditional Nigerian spiritual practice. All locations are approximate and treated with maximum cultural sensitivity.
architecture Layer
Architecture sites document significant examples of traditional Nigerian building traditions. Curated from architectural surveys, heritage inventories, and academic documentation.
nature Layer
Nature sites represent locations of ecological and cultural significance. Curated from conservation research and environmental documentation.
music Layer
Music sites represent locations associated with traditional Nigerian musical heritage and instrument-making traditions. Curated from ethnomusicological research.
currency Layer
Currency sites document pre-colonial economic systems and trade networks. Curated from historical trade route documentation and archaeological evidence.
food Layer
Food heritage sites document traditional Nigerian culinary traditions and agricultural practices. Curated from ethnographic research and food history documentation.
values Layer
Values seats represent locations associated with traditional moral philosophy and governance systems. Curated from oral history and governance research with cultural sensitivity.
Current Layer Statistics
16
architecture sites
15
cosmology seats
17
currency sites
3
ethnicity regions
15
food sites
17
heritage sites
15
monarch seats
16
music sites
11
mythology seats
19
nature sites
15
religion seats
12
slave trade ports
15
technology seats
15
values seats
3 Confidence Labels Explained
Each feature on our map carries a confidence label indicating the reliability of its data. These labels help you understand the level of certainty we have about each location.
Location derived from academic research. May not reflect current boundaries.
Location estimated by combining data from multiple sources.
Location is disputed or uncertain. Multiple conflicting sources exist.
Location taken directly from a specific named source.
Location from official government or institutional records.
Location compiled from multiple sources with some uncertainty.
Location based on historical records that may not reflect current state.
4 Sensitivity & Location Precision
Sacred Site Protection
For locations marked as "sacred" or "sensitive," we intentionally reduce coordinate precision to approximately 1 kilometer (~0.01 degrees). This protects culturally significant sites from unwanted attention while still allowing them to be represented on the map.
Normal Locations
Full coordinate precision (~11m accuracy)
Sacred Sites
Coordinates truncated to ~1km precision. Label: "Location approximate for cultural sensitivity"
Sensitive Locations
Coordinates truncated to ~1km precision. These may include locations with security considerations.
5 Cultural context
Some layers need more than a source citation. These notes explain choices we made about how traditions are represented.
Traditional leadership in the southeast
Igbo governance was historically more republican and egalitarian than centralized monarchies. The saying "Igbo enwe eze" ("the Igbo have no king") reflects a cultural emphasis on decentralized, consultative governance. The notable exceptions — Onitsha, Nri, and Arochukwu — had established kingship systems predating colonial rule. Other Igbo "Eze" and "Igwe" titles were sometimes colonial-era introductions.
Bori tradition
Bori is a pre-Islamic spirit possession tradition that has been periodically suppressed and is officially condemned by devout Muslims. All Bori-related entries use approximate locations and are presented for educational purposes only, with full respect for practitioners and communities.
Trans-Atlantic and trans-Saharan sites
Sites are based on historical sources and may be approximate. This layer is for remembrance and education. It is not exhaustive.
This layer includes both trans-Atlantic coastal ports and trans-Saharan inland trade sites. The trans-Saharan slave trade was a distinct system that transported enslaved people northward across the Sahara to North Africa and the Middle East.
Some sites are located in territories of ethnic groups other than the region they are listed under. This reflects the historical reality that captives were often sourced from one region and exported through ports in another.
6 What This Map Does Not Show
To set appropriate expectations, here are explicit non-goals for this map:
- Real-time or frequently updated boundaries
- Complete census of all ethnic groups in Nigeria
- Official administrative or political boundaries
- Exact locations of sacred or sensitive sites
- Navigation or wayfinding information
- Complete list of all traditional institutions
Found an error?
This is an open-methodology project. We welcome corrections, additions, and feedback from the community. All submissions go through a moderated review process.
Suggest a correctionLayer-Specific Provenance
ethnicity Layer
Ethnicity boundaries are approximate and based on compiled research. They do not represent official administrative borders.
Confidence varies by region and source vintage.
heritage Layer
Heritage site locations may be approximate for cultural sensitivity.
Inclusion does not imply public access; always seek local guidance.
monarchy Layer
Traditional ruler seats shown are first-class and selected others.
This layer does not represent a complete list of all traditional institutions.
ports Layer
Ports are based on historical sources and may not reflect exact locations.
This layer is for remembrance and education, not navigation.
mythology Layer
Mythology and deity seat locations are approximate and based on oral traditions, academic references, and cultural documentation.
Narrative details vary across traditions and lineages.
cosmology Layer
Cosmology and sacred astronomy sites are approximate and based on ethnographic research and cultural documentation.
These represent known associations, not exhaustive records.
technology Layer
Technology and craft heritage sites represent locations associated with traditional Nigerian manufacturing, textile, and artisanal traditions.
Locations are curated from ethnographic and industrial archaeology research.
religion Layer
Spiritual practice sites represent locations associated with traditional Nigerian religious systems. These are treated with maximum respect and sensitivity.
Locations are always approximate. Details vary across traditions and communities.
architecture Layer
Architecture heritage sites represent significant examples of traditional Nigerian building traditions and structural innovation.
Locations are based on architectural surveys and heritage documentation.
nature Layer
Natural heritage sites represent locations of ecological and cultural significance within Nigeria.
Boundaries are approximate and based on conservation and environmental research.
music Layer
Music heritage sites represent locations associated with traditional Nigerian musical traditions and instrument-making.
Locations reflect cultural associations and may not correspond to precise physical sites.
currency Layer
Currency and trade sites represent locations associated with pre-colonial Nigerian economic systems and trade networks.
Locations are based on historical trade route documentation and archaeological evidence.
food Layer
Food heritage sites represent locations associated with traditional Nigerian culinary traditions, agriculture, and food culture.
These reflect cultural associations documented through ethnographic research.
values Layer
Values and governance seats represent locations associated with traditional Nigerian moral philosophy, justice systems, and communal governance.
Locations are approximate and treated with cultural sensitivity.