Ebira-Nupoid · Nigeria’s peoples

Nupe

The Nupe are the main people of Niger State, living in the lowlands of the Niger basin from Kainji down to below Baro, and an important minority in Kwara.

See the Nupe on the map Nupe Kingdom

At a glance

Where do the Nupe people live?: Their homeland is in Niger and Kwara States, across 10 local government areas. They are also a large share of Wushishi in Niger State.
What language do the Nupe speak?: Nupe, a language of the Ebira-Nupoid family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Ebira-Nupoid).
Who is the traditional ruler of the Nupe?: Etsu Nupe, seated at Bida.
Which kingdoms are part of Nupe history?: Nupe Kingdom

Overview

The Nupe are the main people of Niger State, living in the lowlands of the Niger basin from Kainji down to below Baro, and an important minority in Kwara. Their kingdom dates from the 15th century; tradition names its founder Tsoede, an Igala prince. Bida is the seat of the Etsu Nupe.^[3],[2],[4]High confidence

Where the Nupe live

Local government areas by state. Homeland: the group is the majority. Shared area: a large share of a mixed area. Smaller presence: present, but a small share.

Niger
- Agaie(Homeland)
- Bida(Homeland)
- Edati(Homeland)
- Gbako(Homeland)
- Katcha(Homeland)
- Lapai(Homeland)
- Lavun(Homeland)
- Mokwa(Homeland)
- Wushishi(Shared area)
- Borgu(Smaller presence)
- Chanchaga(Smaller presence)
- Mariga(Smaller presence)
- Mashegu(Smaller presence)
Kwara
- Edu(Homeland)
- Pategi(Homeland)
Federal Capital Territory
- Gwagwalada(Smaller presence)
- Kuje(Smaller presence)
Kogi
- Lokoja(Smaller presence)

Areas are approximate and show where people live. They are not claims of land ownership.

Communities beyond the homeland

Bida

Bida, Niger State.^[14],[4]High confidence

A Bini city-state that became the Nupe capital in 1857, when Dendo's heirs defeated the usurper Umaru Bahaushe there; seat of the Etsu Nupe.^[14]

Famed for brass, glass beads, weaving and smithing; Nadel called its court a “Black Byzantium”.^[15],[3]

Nku and Nupeko

Lavun, Niger State: Nku, Nupeko, Gbara Village, Kutigi.^[14],[16]High confidence

Tsoede was born at Nku to a Nupe mother and an Igala prince; he ruled first from Nupeko and then from Gbara, among the Bini city-states of the heartland.^[14]

Raba and Mokwa

Mokwa, Niger State: Mokwa, Jebba.^[14],[16]High confidence

Raba was the capital of Majiya II from 1796 and of Mallam Dendo until 1833; the general Yikanko held Mokwa until about 1810.^[14]

Agaie

Agaie, Niger State: Baro.^[17],[16]High confidence

Seat of a Nupe emirate founded by the Fulani scholar Malam Baba, who conquered the area in 1822; his son Abdullahi became the first emir in 1832. Baro on the Niger later became a railway port.^[17]

Lapai

Lapai, Niger State.^[18],[16]High confidence

A Gbari land that Nupe took in the 1790s; Daudu Maza founded the Lapai emirate around 1825–1828.^[18]

Pategi

Pategi, Kwara State: Lade.^{[12],[14],[16]}High confidence

The Yissazhi, heirs of the old Tsoede line, were given their own emirate at Pategi after 1897; Masaba had his capital at nearby Lade from 1835. The Pategi Regatta on the Niger has been held since 1953.^[12],[14]

Farming on the Niger floodplain (cassava, rice, millet, guinea corn), fishing and trade.^[12]

Lafiagi and Shonga

Edu, Kwara State: Shonga.^[14],[16]High confidence

Seats of two of the Fulani-founded Nupe emirates, alongside Bida, Agaie and Lapai.^[14],[19]

Nupe of Lokoja

Lokoja, Kogi State.^[14]High confidence

Nupe-speaking people live in Lokoja; Kyadya exiles gathered here after the Ganigan war of 1881–82.^[14],[19]

Eggan

Lokoja, Kogi State.^[14],[16]High confidence

A Nupe-speaking town on the Niger; in the 1830s it was the seat of Idrisu, one of the shadow Etsus of the old line.^[14]

Shintaku

Bassa, Kogi State.^[14],[16]High confidence

Named by Sidi among the Nupe-speaking towns of Kogi State.^[14]

Nupe of Koton Karfe

Kogi, Kogi State.^[14]High confidence

Nupe of Ajaokuta

Ajaokuta, Kogi State.^[14]High confidence

Umaisha and Toto

Toto, Nasarawa State: Shamenge, Gadabuke.^[14],[16]High confidence

Nupe-speaking communities north of the Benue in Nasarawa State.^[14]

Zuba and Gwagwalada

Gwagwalada, the Federal Capital Territory.^[14],[16]High confidence

Nupe of Abaji

Abaji, the Federal Capital Territory.^[14]High confidence

Language

Nupe, a language of the Ebira-Nupoid family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Ebira-Nupoid). ISO 639-3: nup.^[1],[2]High confidence

Traditional ruler

Etsu Nupe, seated at Bida.^[5],[4]High confidence

In history

Nupe KingdomNupe Kingdom at its height, 1857

Sources

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