Total population | |
---|---|
c. 3.5 million [1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Nigeria | |
Languages | |
Nupe | |
Religion | |
Predominantly Sunni Islam [2] [3]
| |
Related ethnic groups | |
Gbagyi, Igala, Yoruba, Ebira, Kambari, Kamuku, Bariba, Dukawa |
The Nupe (traditionally called the Nufawa by the Hausas and Tapa by the neighbouring Yoruba) are an ethnic group native to North Central Nigeria. They are the dominant ethnic group in Niger State and an important minority in Kwara State. The Nupe are also present in Kogi State and The Federal Capital Territory. [4] [5]
The Nupe Kingdom emerged in the 14th-15th century, nestled between the Niger and Kaduna rivers. However, Nupe as a group and polity have a rich history dating back to 9,000 B.C. or 40,000 years ago in the Middle Niger and Niger-Benue confluence areas. Most accounts of the ancient kingdom were verbally transmitted legends. Notably, King Jibiri adopted Islam around 1770, marking a significant milestone. In the 1800s, Ma'azu's rule saw the Nupe Kingdom flourish, becoming the most powerful in Central Nigeria.
Today, the Nupe people speak over 5 dialects: Central Nupe, Nupe Tako/Bassa-Nge, Kupa, Kakanda, and Dibo/Abawa/Gana-Gana. Nupe is the largest ethnic group in the Middle Belt, they are at the heart of Nigerian art and culture. The proximity of Nupe to the Yoruba Igbomina people in the south and to the Yoruba Oyo people in the southwest led to cross-fertilization of cultural influences through trade and conflicts over the centuries. [6] In his book The Negro , African-American scholar W.E.B. Du Bois wrote that Nupe trade may have extended as far as Sofala and the Byzantine Empire, with the latter of which, according to what he termed "credible legend," there was even an exchange of embassies. [7]
There are probably about 4.5 million Nupes, [8] principally in Niger State. The Nupe language is also spoken in Kwara, Kogi and Federal Capital Territory. They are primarily Muslims, with some Christians and followers of African Traditional Religion. The Nupe people have several local traditional rulers. The Etsu Nupe (Bida) is not pure Nupe, his great-grandfather from his father side is Fulani, while the family of his mother was complete Nupe. His great-grandfather from his father side came to Rabba then later Bida in 1806 during the Sokoto jihad. [9]
The Nupe people have various traditions. Many practices have changed as a result of the movements started by Sokoto jihad of the 19th century, but they still hold on to some of their culture. Many Nupe people often have tribal marks on their faces. some to identify their prestige and the family of which they belong as well as for protection, as well as jewellery adornment. But these traditions are dying out in certain areas. [10] [ page needed ]
Their art is often abstract. They are well known for their wooden stools with patterns carved onto the surface. [10] [ page needed ]
The Nupe were described in detail by the ethnographer Siegfried Nadel, whose book, Black Byzantium, remains an anthropological classic.
Nupe traditional music is sung by the Ningba, or musician(s), while the Enyanicizhi beats the drum. Legendary Nupe singers of memory include Hajiya Fatima Lolo [11] Alhaji Nda'asabe, Hajiya Nnadzwa, Hauwa Kulu, Baba-Mini, Ahmed Shata and Ndako Kutigi.
The prime-movers of the Nupe cinema started film-making since the late 1990s into the early 2000s. Great Nupe personalities that birthed the idea of producing, acting and directing Nupe dramas/comedies on-screen are late Sadisu Muhammad DGN, [12] Prince Ahmed Chado, late Prince Hussaini Kodo, M.B. Yahaya Babs and Jibril Bala Jibril. They are the people who made the move for Nupe dramas to be on-screen and are the founders of the modern-day Nupe film industry [13] known as Nupewood. [14] Nupewood has since produced more than a thousand entertaining movies in Nupe space to the millions of Nupe audiences.
Lokoja is a north-central city in Nigeria. It lies at the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers and is the capital city of Kogi State. While the Yoruba (Oworo), Bassa Nge and Nupe are indigenous to the area, other ethnic groups, including the Kupa-Nupe, Hausa, Ebira, Igala, Igbo, Bini/Edo, and Tiv have recently established themselves. Lokoja is projected to be the third fastest growing city on the African continent between 2020 and 2025, with a 5.93% growth rate. It was listed as a second class township by the 1917 township ordinance of the colonial administration, indicating that Lokoja is an old city.
Pategi or Patigi is a town and local government in Kwara State, Nigeria with the headquarters located at the town. The town is the headquarters of Pategi Emirate. It is inhabited by the Nupe people who speak the Nupe language. They are farmers, aquatic sellers/fishers and traders. They are known to be governed by a monarch.
Bida is a Local Government Area in Niger State, Nigeria and a city on the A124 highway which occupies most of the area.
Nupe is a Volta–Niger language of the Nupoid branch primarily spoken by the Nupe people of the North Central region of Nigeria. Its geographical distribution stretches and maintains preeminence in Niger State as well as Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory. Nupe is closely related to Kakanda in structure and vocabulary. There are at least two markedly different dialects of Nupe: Nupe central and Nupe Tako.
Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu is a senior civil servant who was elected governor of Niger State, Nigeria in April 2007. He was reelected on 26 April 2011.
Yahaya Abubakar CFR is a traditional ruler who has been the 12th Etsu Nupe, or King of the Nupe Kingdom, since 2003.
The Bida Emirate is a traditional state in Nigeria, a successor to the old Nupe Kingdom, with its headquarters in Bida, Niger State. The head of the emirate is the Etsu Nupe, who is the leader of the Nupe people.
Umaru Bago Tafida III is the 12th Emir, Etsu, or traditional ruler of Lapai in Niger State, Nigeria appointed in July 2002. He succeeded Emir Alhaji Muhammadu Kobo, who died at the age of 92 after ruling for 48 years, and was appointed to the stool by the Niger State governor Abdulkadir Kure.
Ibrahim Usman Jibril CON is a Nigerian traditional ruler and administrator. He is the 12th emir of Nasarawa Emirate and was the minister of state for environment between 2015 and 2018 in the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
Hajiya Fatima Lolo (MON), was a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and historian.
Ramatu Tijani Aliyu is a Nigerian politician from Kogi State, Nigeria. She served as the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT) appointed by president Muhammadu Buhari on August 21, 2019. Ramatu was previously the National Woman Leader of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) later All Progressive Congress (APC) after the party and other political parties merged.
Alhaji (Dr) Umaru Sanda Ndayako, was the 12th Etsu Nupe from one of the ruling houses of Bida. His parents were Muhammadu Ndayako (CBE), the late 9th Etsu Nupe and Aisha Nuadoro.
The Nupe Day Celebration is a traditional and cultural event or celebration observed in Nigeria on 26 June. The event is ordinarily celebrated by the Nupe community yearly in the country.
Mohammad Yahaya Kuta is a Nigerian academic, writer and professor of Agricultural and Forestry, University of Ibadan. He serves as Secretary to the state government of Niger state by Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, and was also commissioner for information and agriculture in Niger State.
Muhammadu Ndayako CMG CBE (1884–1962), popularly known as Baba Kudu, is the 9th Etsu Nupe, from 1935 till his death in 1962.
Usman Baba Pategi, also known as Samanja Mazan Fama, was a Nigerian actor. Together with Yusuf Ladan, Mamman Ladan and Idi Jibril, an NTA staff introduced the Hausa comedy known now as Kannywood, Northern Nigerian films or Hausa films in the 1980s to the Northern audience.
Musa Bello (1919–1975) was the 11th Etsu Nupe in Nupe kingdom reigns from 1967 to his death in 1975 and was succeeded by the 12th Etsu Nupe Umaru Sanda Ndayako.
The Patigi Regatta Festival was founded in 1949 but first took place in 1952. It is a Pategi Emirate boating event in Nigeria featuring the boating races, fishing and swimming.
Patigi Emirate is Nigeria traditional state founded 1898 by Idrissu Gana I the first monarch of the emirate, the name patigi means ' small hill ' the emirate situated in pategi local government of kwara State and the capital of Pategi.
Usman Sarki dan Malam Saidu MP, CFR was the Federal Minister of Interior from 1959 to 1962 succeeded J. M. Johnson and served as the 10th Etsu Nupe from 1962 to 1969 succeeding the 9th Etsu Nupe Muhammadu Ndayako. He was succeeded by his cousin, the 11th Etsu Nupe Musa Bello.