Nupe
Facts
- Spoken by: 800,000 as first language, 200,000 as second language
- Geographic center:
- Subdivision: Kwa
- Online resource: PanAfri10n
Introduction
The Nupe, traditionally called the Tapa by the neighbouring Yoruba, are an ethnic group located primarily in the middle belt and northern Nigeria and are the dominant group in Niger and an important minority in Kwara State.
Although a version of their history claim that they originally lived in Egypt, the more common tradition traces their origin to Tsoede who fleed the court of Idah and established a loose confederation of towns along the Niger in the 15th century. 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. It is said that the famous Yoruba oba or king, Shango (also spelt Sango, and also known across the world as 'Xango, Chango, Nago Shango and Jakuta) who was once an Alaafin of Oyo before being deified following his death, was the son of a Nupe (Tapa) woman.
Many Nupe were converted to Islam at the end of the eighteenth century by Mallam Dendo, a wandering preacher, and were incorporated into the Fulani Empire established by the Jihad led by Usman dan Fodio after 1806.
However, the traditions of Nupe were retained. Hence the ruler of Nupe is the Etsu Nupe rather than being called Emir. The city of Bida fell to the colonialist British forces in 1897, the Etsu Abubakar was deposed and replaced by the more pliable Muhammadu (Vandeleur 1898). During the reign of Muhammadu, a Prince named Jimada moved to Patigi, northeast of Bida (not to be confused with near-identically spelt Pategi, southwest of Bida, on the southern and opposite bank of the Niger River) protesting against being ruled by a Fulani (Vandeleur 1898). Now Jimada’s descendants are fighting for the post of Etsu Nupe claiming to be the only existing pure Nupe ruling family.
More detail on the history of the Nupe kingdoms can be found in Burdon (1909), Nadel (1942), Hogben & Kirk-Greene (1966:261-282) and Mason (1981) and The Black Byzantium (an excellent book)
Interesting Personal Note:
Nupe is a very tonal language and sounds similar to singing. When someone asks how you are (“Ke we wano?”), it is rude to stop replying “mi ji abo” until you are out of earshot. I used to meet women in the bush, with loads of firewood on their heads and the lovely wafting sound of “ke we wano” and “mi ji abo” followed you into the distance.
Language sample
Click play below to hear a greeting in Nupe