The majority of Tiv people are not from Benue State. A lot of people believe that all Tiv people are from Benue State because that is the picture that has been painted over the years in an attempt to consciously limit the Tiv people to Benue State. That is where the concept of “Tiv from Benue” originated from.
The Tiv tribe is the single largest ethnic group in the Middle Belt and of course the fourth largest ethnic group in the country, spanning across many states in what is considered as Central Nigeria. Before Benue State was created, the Tiv people were recognised as the single largest tribe in the then Gongola State which became Adamawa and Taraba.
IIn addition, the Tiv people were the largest Ethnic group in the Benue Plateau, which was later broken into Benue, Kogi, Plateau and Nasarawa states respectfully. It means that, the Tiv People are majority in Taraba and Nasarawa states including some parts of the states in Nigeria.
Apart from the above mentioned states in the MiddleBelt, the Tiv tribe is also one of the single largest tribes in Cross River State which is part of Eastern Nigeria.
Internationally, the Akwaya district of Cameroon is dominated by the Tiv people. Other minority groups within the region and beyond have adopted the Tiv cultural and traditional practices such as dances and food.
Tiv are indigenes in the various states and countries mentioned above, making them one of the biggest tribes in Nigeria and a minority in Cameroon.
You are either Tiv from West Africa in the country of Nigeria, or from Central Africa in the country of Cameroon.
The spiritual capital of Tiv people is in Kwande while the Palace of Tor Tiv is in Gboko.