# Nupe people

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.

## History

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. 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.

## Population and demography

There are probably about 4.5 million Nupes, 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's side is Fulani, while the family of his mother was completely Nupe. His great-grandfather from his father's side came to Rabba then later Bida in 1806 during the Sokoto jihad.

## Traditions, art and culture

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, and adornment as jewellery. However, these traditions are dying out in certain areas.
Their art is often abstract. They are well known for their wooden stools with patterns carved onto the surface.
The Nupe were described in detail by the ethnographer Siegfried Nadel, whose book, Black Byzantium, remains an anthropological classic.

### Examples of Nupe art

* Burtu wooden mask, used during bird hunting; Museum of Ethnology, Vienna. The hunter would tie the mask around his head and imitate the bird's movement.
* Carved door; c. 1920 – 1940; wood with iron staples; Hood Museum of Art.
* Wooden oval stool with incised carving; Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

## Music and entertainment industry

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 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, 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 known as Nupewood. Nupewood has since produced more than a thousand entertaining movies in Nupe space to the millions of Nupe audiences.
* Shaikh Ahmad Lemu (OON, OFR) (1929–2020), Islamic scholar
* Hon. Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi (OFR, GCON) (1939–2018), Nigerian lawyer and chief justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria
* Mohammed Umar Bago (born 1974), politician, Governor of Niger State since 29 May, 2023
* Muhammad Bima Enagi (born 1959), politician
* Muhammad Umaru Ndagi, academic professor (born 1964)
* Shehu Ahmadu Musa (1935–2008), politician
* Dangana Ndayako, politician and Senator in the Third Nigerian Republic
* Shaaba Lafiaji, politician
* Suleiman Takuma, journalist and political leader (1934–2001)
* Sam Nda-Isaiah (1962–2020), political columnist
* Jerry Gana, scholar and politician. See cabinet of Olusegun Obasanjo
* Isa Mohammed Bagudu (born 1948), third republic politician
* Zainab Kure (born 1959), politician
* Abdulkadir Kure (1956–2017), politician and former Governor of Niger State in the Fourth Nigerian Republic
* Aliyu Makama (1905–1980), Northern acting premiere
* H.R.H. Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar (GCFR) (born 1952), Etsu-Nupe; traditional ruler
* Mamman Jiya Vatsa (1940–1986) , intellctual, military officer and former FCT minister
* Fatima Lolo (1891–1997), musician
* Mohammed Baba Saba (1984 - 2024), Plant breeder