A major annual celebration that brings Tiv people together across Nigeria and the diaspora to celebrate their shared identity, culture, and heritage. It commonly features traditional attire, dance, storytelling, and cultural discussions. Tiv Day is a unifying moment of pride and cultural affirmation for the Tiv nation.
Tiv Day represents a conscious effort by the Tiv people to preserve and celebrate their cultural identity in the face of modernisation. It reaffirms the values of the A'nger fabric, the Swange dance, and communal storytelling as living symbols of Tiv resilience and cohesion.
A'nger traditional attire display, Swange dance performances, storytelling sessions, cultural lectures and panel discussions, community reunion and networking.
Tiv Day, also called Tiv Cultural Day, was established in 1977, according to the message delivered for President Bola Tinubu at the 2025 celebration. It is the main gathering of the Tiv nation under the Tor Tiv and the Tiv Area Traditional Council, which uses the occasion to confer honorary titles.
The celebration has not always been held every year. A 2019 report in The New Times noted that Tiv Day had last been held in 2014, and The Sun reported in December 2025 that the event had been postponed for several years because of insecurity. The 2025 edition took place on 13 December at the J.S. Tarka Stadium, Gboko, under the theme "The Rebirth of the Tiv Nation". The President was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse, and the President General of Mzough U Tiv, Chief Iorbee Ihagh, also spoke, and honorary titles were conferred on 18 people. AllAfrica's report of the day said thugs disrupted the ceremony and stopped some guests from entering before security officers restored order.
Tiv communities abroad also hold a Tiv Day. In 2024 Mzough U Tiv United Kingdom (MUTUK) held its Tiv Day annual conference and cultural celebration in Dagenham, London, attended by Governor Hyacinth Alia.
Sources: Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation (fmino.gov.ng), December 2025; The Sun (thesun.ng), 13 December 2025; AllAfrica, 15 December 2025; Denen Achussah, The New Times, 2019; Benue State Government (benuestate.gov.ng), 2024.
Cultural Unity and Identity Festival
Charles Ihungwa Ikyese
Tinubu Celebrates Tiv Heritage, Reaffirms Commitment To National Unity And Good Governance
Festival Gallery 3 photos
Other Festivals
See the Tiv people and the Tiv language in our Nigeria Heritage Archive: the states and local government areas where Tiv communities live, neighbouring peoples, population figures and sources.