Nupe risings against Bida

Overview

Bida's own Nupe rose against it three times. In 1868 the people of Lavun district, on the Kaduna river, fought Etsu Masaba in the Kwenti war. In 1876 Prince Baba, a descendant of the ousted Etsu Majiya, led the Fogbagba war. In 1881–82 the Kyadya, the river people who ran Nupe's canoes and ferries and had always governed themselves, rebelled when Bida tried to take over the rivers. After the Ganigan war their Kuta, Usman, and his general Kologba were executed at Bida; Bida's men took over the ferries, and Kyadya exiles gathered at Lokoja. Fifteen years later they helped the Royal Niger Company cross the Niger.^[1]High confidence

Who took part

• Bida emirate· Defended
• Nupe rebels (Lavun, Majiya line, Kyadya)· Rose up

What happened

1. 1868 · Lavun district

   The Kwenti war

   Lavun district rises against Etsu Masaba.^[1]High confidence

2. 1876

   The Fogbagba war

   Prince Baba of the Majiya line fights to restore the old dynasty.^[1]High confidence

3. 1881–1882 · Lokoja (Kyadya exiles)

   The Kyadya rising and the Ganigan war

   The river people fight Bida; their Kuta Usman and general Kologba are executed, and many Kyadya cross the Niger, some to Lokoja and some as the Ganigan highway robbers.^[1]High confidence

Kingdoms involved

• Nupe Kingdom

Sources

Every claim carries a confidence level: high (well attested), medium (one source or approximate) or disputed (sources disagree).

1. Idrees, Aliyu A. (1989). Collaboration and the British Conquest of Bida in 1897: The Role and Achievement of the Indigenous Interest Groups. African Study Monographs 10(2): 69–82