Top 10 Largest Tribes in Africa.

Africa has within it more than a billion people in 54 countries. It also has around 3,000 tribes, from diverse regions with varying numbers of people. 30% of the African population come from ten people groups or if you would prefer “tribes”. In almost every case, these tribes were precolonial states, with their own language and their own independent institutions. Here are the 10 largest tribes by population in Africa.
10. The Hutu
The Hutu Tribe has a population of around 20-25 million people, settled primarily in two countries. The Hutu are the smallest of the top 10 tribes of Africa. In Rwanda and Burundi, around 85% of the people are Hutu and a combined 21 million Hutu live in these two countries.
9. The Somali
The Somali Tribe have a population of around 20 million people and can be found in the country of Somalia (where they make up the majority of the population), Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya.
8. Akan
The Akan tribe number around 20 million people and can be found in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, notably along the southern region of both countries. They also speak their own language, the Akan language which is part of the Central Tano branch of languages. The Akans have an interesting history and formed the Ashanti Empire, which was the most dominant Akan state and lasted for nearly 200 years. The Akans had many subgroups who also formed their own Kingdoms.
7. Amhara
The Amhara Tribe number around 20 million and are mostly concentrated in Ethiopia where they make up 26.9% of the total population. The Amharas are the indigenous people of Ethiopia having historically lived in the Northern, Central and Western parts of the country. The first mention in history of the Amhara dates back to the 12th century when they were in conflict with the Werjih. This proved that they had been in this area for far longer than the previous accepted date of the thirteenth century. In fact, analysis showed that they have been living in Ethiopia since over two thousand years, having lived in the Central highland plateau in Ethiopia since that period.

6. Fulani
The Fulani tribe are one of the largest ethnic groups and tribes in Africa, with over 40 million people. They live mainly in Western African nations such as Nigeria, Mali, Guinea, Cameroon, Senegal and Chad. They have their own language known as Fula. Their origins are unclear but there are many theories as to where they originated. The oral traditions of the Fulani states that they started from what is now present day Jordan. What we do know for sure is that by the 5th century, they were in West Africa. The earliest evidence we have from archaeological digs points to them starting around 6th century BC at the latest.

5. Oromo
Fifth in the list of the 10 largest tribes of Africa are the Oromo. The Oromo number around 40 million. They are mostly settled in Ethiopia and represent 34.5% of the Ethiopian population. They have their own language known as the Oromo language. They even have their own religion, which some follow to this day, known as Waaqeffanna.
4. Amazigh
The Amazigh consist of around 40 million people. They are mostly found in Morocco and Algeria, but are also found in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Mali, Mauritiana and Niger. Most Amazigh speak the Amazigh language, though they also speak Arabic.
They have inhabited the Maghreb region in North Western Africa for over 12,000 years now. There are cave paintings from around 10,000 BC which can be attributed to the Amazigh. Numidia was an ancient Amazigh Kingdom which was very prosperous at the height of its success.
3. Yoruba
Third in the list of the 10 largest tribes of Africa are the Yoruba. The Yoruba are a tribe that consist of around 47 million people. They are mostly found in West Africa especially in Nigeria (43.4 million) and Benin (1.4 million). Most Yoruba speak the Yoruba language, which is part of the Niger-Congo family of languages.
The history of the Yoruba is very interesting. The Yoruba people have inhabited Southwest Nigeria since as early as 9,000 BC (11,000 years ago). This is based on skeletal remains found in Iwo-Eleru in present-day Ondo State, Southwest Nigeria.
2. Igbo
The Igbo are another numerous tribe consisting of about 45 million people. They are based primarily in modern day Nigeria where they make up over 18% of the population though they are also found in Guinea. They have their own language known as the Igbo language which they primarily speak.
1. Hausa
The Hausa are a huge tribe and the largest of the 10 largest tribes of Africa with an estimated population of 74 million, mostly based in Nigeria with 64 million of them living there.