What are beliefs of Nupe people?

The Nupe are an ethnic group native to North Central Nigeria. They are the dominant ethnic group in Niger State and a minority in Kwara State. The Nupe are also present in Kogi State and The Federal Capital Territory.

What are the beliefs of the Nupe people?

Most Nupe are now Muslims, but many older rituals are still performed. The indigenous religion includes belief in a sky god, ancestral spirits, and spirits associated with natural objects.

The Nupe consists of several subgroups of these people that all speak related languages. The Nupe trace their origins back to Tsoede an Igala prince from Idah during the 15th century. The Nupe state was brought about by conquest. They were influenced by the surrounding peoples’ culture including the Benin and the Ife groups.

In 1796, when two rival Etsu, Jimada, and Majiya II, claimed the throne. The Nupe continued in a period of political instability throughout the early 19th century. Muslims have had a big effect on the Nupe people. The first Islamic Nupe king ruled around 1770, and the Fulani conquest that occurred in stages around 1820 was even more influential.