Nupe Land; People With a Unique Culture.....

Marriage.

 Traditionally, marriage could be contracted in one of two ways: The would-be bridegroom asked for the consent of the girl (sometimes the girl will suggest to her father whom she wants to marry), or the marriage would be arranged by the heads of the families. Polygynous marriages were very common both before and after the introduction of the Islamic faith. 

Marriage involves the payment of a bride-price by the groom, and post marital residence is patriotically. 

A Nupe Bride Traditional dressed.

Marriage has no real meaning without procreation. Barrenness is regarded as a curse and a misfortune, and traditional means are utilized to secure fertility or cure barrenness. Divorce rarely occurs because men want to avoid the publicity and ridicule of divorce proceedings in Alkali court (Islamic court). 

Most marriages are terminated only by the death of a spouse. Widows must remain in the compound for five months before they can remarry.

Bida is the traditional headquarters of the Nupes, a people said to be descendents of Vgha Bn Nafili, who is believed to have migrated from North East-Africa to the Nubia and from there to Nupe land.

The first effective Nupe dynasty was founded by Mallam Dendo, a learned Fulani Court Adviser, who rose to prominence and power after deposing the then Etsu Nupe, Majiya (1767 - 77) at Raba After Mallam Dendo's death in 1832, his Senior Son, Usman Zaki became the first Etsu Nupe in Bida until 1859. 

Thus, Bida became both the political and commercial centre of the Nupes.

History and Cultural Relations

The oral traditions of the Nupe credit the foundation of the Nupe state to Tsoede in the fifteenth century. Before his time there were a number of small semiautonomous states in the area, such as Ebe, Gbidye, Kusopa, Benu, Beni, Dibo, Kede, Ebagi, Batsoi, Kupa, Cekpa, and Gwagba.

Tsoede, who first took the title of Etsu (king), was an Igala prince from Idah, south of the Niger River. The Nupe state was brought about by conquest. The Nupe have influenced and been influenced by their neighbors in cultural matters, including language, religion, arts, agricultural techniques, and trade. 

Bronze figures found at Tada and Jebba suggest a connection with Ife and Benin. Stone figures found among the Igbomina-Yoruba of west-central Nigeria that have Nupe and Yoruba cultural traits suggest interactions between those groups.