HISTORY STUDY NOTES: THE NUPE KINGDOM (SS 1)

WEEK 1: Origins and Early History of the Nupe Kingdom

1. Geographical Location: The Nupe Kingdom was located in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, primarily around the basin of the River Niger and the River Kaduna. Today, this area constitutes Niger, Kwara, and Kogi States.

2. The Legend of Tsoede (Edegi): The most widely accepted tradition of origin attributes the founding of the Nupe Kingdom to Tsoede (also known as Edegi) in the 16th century (c. 1531).

• Tsoede was an illegitimate son of an Igala prince (the Attah of Idah) and a Nupe mother.
• He fled the Idah court with several symbolic items: a bronze canoe, bronze trumpets, and the famous Tada and Jebba bronze figures.
• He conque