Nupe — Ethnic group | Nigeria Heritage Archive

The Nupe are a people of the middle Niger, whose language Blench's Atlas places mainly in Niger State, and also in Kwara, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory.

Overview

The Nupe are a people of the middle Niger, whose language Blench's Atlas places mainly in Niger State, and also in Kwara, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory. The Federal Government's profile of Kogi State counts 'a small fraction of Nupe mainly in Lokoja' among the state's minorities, and Wikipedia describes the Bassa-Nge, Kakanda and Kupa of Kogi as peoples of Nupe origin.

Connections

Nupe has documented presence in:
Agaie · Federal Capital Territory · Niger State · Mashegu · Wushishi · Mokwa · Katcha · Edati · Lavun · Mariga · Gbako · Lapai · Bida · Kogi State · Pategi · Edu · Kwara State · Lagos State (migrant community) · Funtua · Faskari · Katsina State · Lokoja
Nupe has subgroup:
Bassa-Nge
Nupe is associated with:
Lafiagi Emirate (emirate of a Nupe-speaking area) · Pategi Emirate (Nupe emirate founded by the Kede) · Tsoede's Tomb, Gwagwade (tomb of the first ruler to unite the Nupe) · Bida Emirate (the Etsu Nupe, leader of the Nupe people)
Nupe celebrates:
Pategi Regatta · Nupe Day
Nupe is historically related to:
Kakanda · Kupa
Nupe speaks:
Nupe

Other names

Anufawa · alternative
Blench's Atlas (2020), Nupe (Central), field 2.C: other name for the people.
Nyffe · alternative
Blench's Atlas (2020), Nupe (Central), field 2.C: other name for the people.

Sources

Kogi State — Federal Government of Nigeria (nigeria.gov.ng), 2024-03-06 · Official source · link (accessed 30 Sep 2026)
Supports: Nupe
Kogi State — Wikipedia · Reference source · link (accessed 25 Sep 2026)
Supports: Nupe
An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020 edition) — Roger Blench, Kay Williamson Educational Foundation / McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, 2020 · Academic source · link (accessed 24 Sep 2026)
Supports: Nupe

How evidence is graded

Verified: Supported by an official source, or by two or more independent sources that agree.
Well documented: Supported by credible sources, but not yet independently confirmed.
Reported: Found in a credible source; further corroboration is welcome.
Needs corroboration: The evidence is thin or incomplete; more sources are being sought.
Disputed: Credible sources or community accounts disagree; the differing accounts are noted.
Uncertain: There is not yet enough information to classify this responsibly.

Sources are marked official, academic, reference, community or general web. Sources that copy each other count as one. Oral traditions are recorded as traditions, not as proven fact.

Archive ID: ETH-NUPE · Last updated 30 September 2026. Spotted an error or have a source to add? Tell us.

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