📚 Tiv Heritage Archive
Explore Tiv Culture
35,899 entries — names • proverbs • plants • festivals • foods • dictionary • animals • bible
Tiv Names
288Terzungwe
God's Mercy
Tiv Names
Terzungwe
God's Mercy
Open ›Iti
Name
Tiv Names
Iti
Iti means name…
Open ›Ityohemba
None is as powerful / helpful as paternal kinsmen
Tiv Names
Ityohemba
Cultural Beliefs: Maternal and Paternal Kinsmen…
Open ›Ityoyima
Saved / delivered by paternal kinsmen
Tiv Names
Ityoyima
Cultural Beliefs: Maternal and Paternal Kinsmen…
Open ›Aondohemba
None is as powerful / helpful as God
Tiv Names
Aondohemba
Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…
Open ›Aondoyima
Saved / delivered by God
Tiv Names
Aondoyima
Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…
Open ›Aondowase
Helped / assisted by God
Tiv Names
Aondowase
Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…
Open ›Terhemba
None is as powerful / helpful as God the Father
Tiv Names
Terhemba
Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…
Open ›Teryima
Saved / delivered by God the Father
Tiv Names
Teryima
Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…
Open ›Torhemba
None is as powerful / helpful as God the King of kings
Tiv Names
Torhemba
Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…
Open ›Toryima
Saved / delivered by God the King of kings
Tiv Names
Toryima
Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…
Open ›Torwase
Helped / assisted by God the King of kings
Tiv Names
Torwase
Divine Names: Aôndo, Ter, Tor, Usha…
Open ›Proverbs
232Ka u doo a orutso nyom, fam a gba nan per …
If you are in need of someone's help, learn to relate w
Proverbs
Ka u doo a orutso nyom, fam a gba nan per …
It is advisable to relate well with everyone.…
Open ›Akor a ngô Ivyo nga nduur Kpev yav ga.
The horns of a doe (she-goat) do not hurt the buck (he-
Proverbs
Akor a ngô Ivyo nga nduur Kpev yav ga.
Tiv mba er inja kwagh ne u tesen er kwagh ka un a doo u ishima yô u nengen a iyo…
Open ›Ka we a dugh ityôndo gbaaye u ngôôr zende …
Whoever carries a burning stick of African mesquite doe
Proverbs
Ka we a dugh ityôndo gbaaye u ngôôr zende …
Ka nahan man or ngu a za dugh hen anngbyan er nan a za keer yô nan yemen fele fe…
Open ›Ka we a eren belanda u mkee u kera aan ity…
When trading in pepper, you do not scratch your anus.
Proverbs
Ka we a eren belanda u mkee u kera aan ity…
Tiv mba er kwagh ne u tesen iyolparegh man mlu u sulaa sha hanma kwagh u uwe ave…
Open ›Ka or u nan ze shin uagh tugh nan fe er In…
Only the one who goes to the river in the night that kn
Proverbs
Ka or u nan ze shin uagh tugh nan fe er In…
Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u pasen er saa u lu ken atô u hanma kwagh man u fa vie v…
Open ›Ka we a paan bar u yaan anema.
While clearing a cave, you eat bats.
Proverbs
Ka we a paan bar u yaan anema.
Inima ka inyon i i lun ken bar yô. Mba eren tom ken bar ka vea zua a inima yô ma…
Open ›Ka we a koron kooso u ndiar tsur.
When you are weaving a spike lute, you lick the honeyco
Proverbs
Ka we a koron kooso u ndiar tsur.
Injakwagh ne kpa Tiv mba kaan er, doo u yangen or u nan lu eren kwagh la u zuan …
Open ›Aondo tsar wan la ashano ken ityő a nenge …
God has lit a match in the boy's head; he sees far beyo
Proverbs
Aondo tsar wan la ashano ken ityő a nenge …
Tiv mba er kwagh ne sha u tesen er mfe u wan la ka u marami, ka sagh a tsaha wan…
Open ›Ka iyo i nyom Kurugh anyi sha igyundu ia v…
The snake that bites a tortoise on its shell will be th
Proverbs
Ka iyo i nyom Kurugh anyi sha igyundu ia v…
Injakwagh ne tese ishimataver. Ka u tesen er weu wa ikyo a ican ga, ka mba eren …
Open ›M kor bua sha akor we u ngu kamen atumba (…
I have seized the bull by its horns, for you to press i
Proverbs
M kor bua sha akor we u ngu kamen atumba (…
Tiv mba er injakwah ne u pasen er, orgen ngu yan ican, orgen ngu zuan a mtsera s…
Open ›Ka we a sôron ijua i kpen u ver ikyur ikyua.
When treating a dead vagina, you always keep the penis
Proverbs
Ka we a sôron ijua i kpen u ver ikyur ikyua.
Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u kaan er, ka a öron kwagh wou i nengen sha we. Ka a ôro…
Open ›Bua u alu a tsa ga Aôndo hur un iji iyolna.
A cow without a tail has God to drive away the flies fo
Proverbs
Bua u alu a tsa ga Aôndo hur un iji iyolna.
Tiv mba er injakwagh ne u tesen er or u nan lua orwasen nan ga, shin nan mar wan…
Open ›Plants
334Usaa
Christ's thorn; Jujube; Sidr
Plants
Usaa
A thorny shrub or small tree bearing small, round, apple-like edible fruit.…
Open ›Zerbua
Plants
Zerbua
Open ›Youyou
Rushy tephrosia; Tephrosia
Plants
Youyou
A slender, rush-like shrub or herb in the pea family (Fabaceae), in the same gen…
Open ›Yiwou; Yiyawou
Narrow-spiked celosia; Wild celosia
Plants
Yiwou; Yiyawou
An annual to short-lived shrubby herb of West and Central African forest and sav…
Open ›Yaragom; Kon-iwambe
Snowberry tree; White-berry bush
Plants
Yaragom; Kon-iwambe
A much-branched shrub or small tree bearing tiny, white, berry-like fruit, givin…
Open ›Wule; Kenyi
Wild date palm; Reclinata palm; Senegal date palm
Plants
Wule; Kenyi
A multi-stemmed, clustering palm with feathery fronds, found along rivers and in…
Open ›Wua nor
Irish potato; White potato; European potato
Plants
Wua nor
An herbaceous perennial grown as an annual crop for its starchy underground tube…
Open ›Hi-tur
Sandpaper leaf fig; Forest sandpaper fig
Plants
Hi-tur
A fig tree with rough, sandpaper-textured leaves traditionally used for scouring…
Open ›Agenga
Purple tephrosia; Wild indigo; Fish poison plant
Plants
Agenga
A small woody-based shrub or herb with purple pea-like flowers, common on waste …
Open ›Wannune-chi; Anmune-chi ark.
Partridge pea; Sensitive partridge pea
Plants
Wannune-chi; Anmune-chi ark.
A small annual or short-lived perennial legume herb with sensitive, fern-like le…
Open ›Uwua
Palisade signal grass; Brachiaria; Congo grass
Plants
Uwua
A robust, tufted perennial grass native to Africa and now widely planted as past…
Open ›Tkyehegh
Alligator pepper; Grains of paradise; Melegueta pepper
Plants
Tkyehegh
A herbaceous ginger-family plant with reed-like stems, grown for its pungent, pe…
Open ›Festivals
11Kyegh Sha Shwa
Kyegh Sha Shwa Cultural Festival
Festivals
Kyegh Sha Shwa
An annual large-scale Tiv cultural gathering held in Makurdi. It celebrates Tiv …
Open ›Kwagh-Hir
Kwagh-Hir Puppet Festival
Festivals
Kwagh-Hir
A renowned Tiv dramatic folk theatre tradition that uses puppets, marionettes, m…
Open ›Tiv Day
Tiv Day Celebration
Festivals
Tiv Day
A major annual celebration that brings Tiv people together across Nigeria and th…
Open ›Iniongo i iyou mbi her
New Yam Festival
Festivals
Iniongo i iyou mbi her
Annual harvest celebration marking the beginning of the new yam season.…
Open ›Imo
Imo Song Festival
Festivals
Imo
Imo is the Tiv word for song, and the Imo festival is a celebration built around…
Open ›Ikase Akombo and Tyav
Tiv Funeral Festivity
Festivals
Ikase Akombo and Tyav
A funeral festivity held when a Tiv patriarch dies. The songs, music and dances …
Open ›Indyer
Indyer Festival
Festivals
Indyer
A celebration held by a man reputable enough to possess an indyer, the great Tiv…
Open ›Ivom
Ivom Dance Festival
Festivals
Ivom
Ivom is the great festival of shagba, the honour of a Tiv man of standing. The h…
Open ›Akata
Akata Fishing Festival
Festivals
Akata
A traditional fishing festival held in Katsina-Ala that showcases local fishing …
Open ›Biem and Toho Yilan
Biem and Toho Yilan Hunting Festival
Festivals
Biem and Toho Yilan
A traditional Tiv hunting festival involving both inter-clan hunting expeditions…
Open ›Nyinya
Nyinya Festival
Festivals
Nyinya
A traditional celebration of affluence in which a person who acquires a horse — …
Open ›Foods
38Chingalev
Rice and Beans
Foods
Chingalev
A Tiv dish of rice cooked together with black-eyed peas and plenty of spices, us…
Open ›Ruam Nahan
Flour Ruam (Swallow)
Foods
Ruam Nahan
Ruam made from flour rather than from pounded yam. Water is boiled, the flour is…
Open ›Akpu
Fermented Cassava Fufu
Foods
Akpu
A Tiv ruam made from fermented cassava. The cassava is fermented until soft and …
Open ›Ager
Ager Draw Soup
Foods
Ager
A slimy Tiv draw soup made from ager, the climbing plant Cissus populnea. The pl…
Open ›Aninge
Tassel-Flower Leaf Soup
Foods
Aninge
A Tiv vegetable soup made from the leaves of aninge, a scented leafy plant. It h…
Open ›Icheer
Egusi (Melon-Seed) Soup
Foods
Icheer
Egusi soup, called icheer in Tiv, made from melon seeds that are shelled, dried …
Open ›Mgishim
Garden Egg Soup
Foods
Mgishim
A Tiv soup made from garden eggs. The garden eggs are boiled until soft, then ma…
Open ›Ityogh
Palm Wine
Foods
Ityogh
Palm wine, called ityogh in Tiv: the fermented sap of palm trees, a drink that i…
Open ›Ishoho
Tiger Nuts
Foods
Ishoho
Tiger nuts, called ishoho in Tiv, eaten boiled during the harvest season and dri…
Open ›Ishwa sha ahi
Sesame Seeds and Groundnuts
Foods
Ishwa sha ahi
A very common Tiv snack of lightly salted roasted groundnuts mixed with roasted …
Open ›Hungwaja
Roasted Grasshoppers
Foods
Hungwaja
Wild grasshoppers, roasted and eaten as a snack. Akiga Sai, writing in 1935, cal…
Open ›Mzembe u mgban
Roasted African Pear
Foods
Mzembe u mgban
Mzembe, the African pear, roasted and eaten as a snack, often together with roas…
Open ›Dictionary
4,087Mbampin
questions
Dictionary
Mbampin
questions
Open ›ngu heen
lives
Dictionary
ngu heen
lives
Open ›ôron
read
Dictionary
ôron
read
Open ›sugh
greet
Dictionary
sugh
greet
Open ›soo
want
Dictionary
soo
want
Open ›u dondon
next door
Dictionary
u dondon
next door
Open ›kile
brush (teeth)
Dictionary
kile
brush (teeth)
Open ›kwagh nyion
ill
Dictionary
kwagh nyion
ill
Open ›ôô iyol
bathe
Dictionary
ôô iyol
bathe
Open ›man zar
drink
Dictionary
man zar
drink
Open ›ngu heen
live
Dictionary
ngu heen
live
Open ›lun
were
Dictionary
lun
were
Open ›Animals
48Imunan
Mosquito
Animals
Imunan
Wild insect used symbolically in Tiv scarification and spiritual identity markin…
Open ›Ndiar
Water monitor
Animals
Ndiar
Wild large lizard used as a religious identity symbol in Tiv culture.…
Open ›Okpoto
Fish type
Animals
Okpoto
Wild aquatic creature of a specific type used in Tiv confraternity symbolism.…
Open ›Kov
Fish type
Animals
Kov
Wild aquatic creature of a specific type used in Tiv confraternity symbolism.…
Open ›Gbargbar
Fish type
Animals
Gbargbar
Wild aquatic creature of a specific type; part of Tiv fish-related tattoo symbol…
Open ›Ishu
Fish
Animals
Ishu
Wild aquatic creature used in Tiv tattoo and scarification traditions.…
Open ›Yongo
Sheep
Animals
Yongo
Domestic animal whose skin is used in ritual regalia. Also rendered Yongô.…
Open ›Gungun
Mystical snake
Animals
Gungun
Wild / spiritual serpent of mystical nature; a protective entity in Tiv belief.…
Open ›Shimbe
Civet
Animals
Shimbe
Wild small carnivore whose skin carries high ritual value among the Tiv.…
Open ›Yese
Scorpion
Animals
Yese
Wild arachnid used as a protective tattoo symbol among the Tiv.…
Open ›Ivo
Goat
Animals
Ivo
Domestic animal frequently used in Tiv ritual ceremonies.…
Open ›Ihyo
Antelope
Animals
Ihyo
Wild game animal associated with invisibility and divinatory significance. Also …
Open ›Bible
30,861Ezekiel 18:23
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” says t
Bible
Ezekiel 18:23
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” says the Lord Yahweh, “and not …
Open ›Ezekiel 18:24
“But when the righteous turns away from his righteousne
Bible
Ezekiel 18:24
“But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity,…
Open ›Ezekiel 18:25
“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not equal.’ Hear
Bible
Ezekiel 18:25
“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not equal.’ Hear now, house of Israel: Is …
Open ›Ezekiel 18:26
When the righteous man turns away from his righteousnes
Bible
Ezekiel 18:26
When the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, …
Open ›Ezekiel 18:27
Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedne
Bible
Ezekiel 18:27
Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed,…
Open ›Ezekiel 18:28
Because he considers, and turns away from all his trans
Bible
Ezekiel 18:28
Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has com…
Open ›Ezekiel 18:29
Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is n
Bible
Ezekiel 18:29
Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ House of Israel…
Open ›Ezekiel 18:30
“Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone
Bible
Ezekiel 18:30
“Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways,” s…
Open ›Ezekiel 18:31
Cast away from you all your transgressions in which you
Bible
Ezekiel 18:31
Cast away from you all your transgressions in which you have transgressed; and m…
Open ›Ezekiel 18:32
For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies,” s
Bible
Ezekiel 18:32
For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies,” says the Lord Yahweh. “The…
Open ›Ezekiel 19:1
“Moreover, take up a lamentation for the princes of Isr
Bible
Ezekiel 19:1
“Moreover, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,…
Open ›Ezekiel 19:2
and say, ‘What was your mother? A lioness. She couched
Bible
Ezekiel 19:2
and say, ‘What was your mother? A lioness. She couched among lions, in the middl…
Open ›Help Preserve Tiv Heritage
Every word, proverb, and tradition you add becomes part of a living digital museum for future generations.