Dr Abdullateef Y. Bida, in a rejoinder IBB’s Memoir, on February 22, claimed, among other issues, that “Even the Gwari people trace their origins to the Nupe kingdom”.
CLAIM: “Even the Gwari people trace their origins to the Nupe kingdom“.
Fact-check: Prof. Muhammad Paiko of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai (IBBUL) asked @Perplexity and @DeepSeek the same question, and here are the answers:
Question 1: @Perplexity, Is there any truth to the assertion that “gwari (or gbagyi) people trace their origins to Nupe kingdom”? Use historical facts to explain
Answer 1: There is no historical evidence to support the assertion that the Gbagyi (or Gwari) people trace their origins directly to the Nupe kingdom. However, the Gbagyi and Nupe languages are closely related, indicating some cultural and linguistic affinity between the two groups. The Gbagyi are believed to have originated from the Borno region in northeastern Nigeria, with some claims of migration from other areas. While there are historical interactions and cultural exchanges between the Nupe and Gbagyi, such as linguistic similarities, there is no direct evidence of a common origin from the Nupe kingdom38.
Question 2: @Deepseek, Is there any truth to the assertion that “gwari (or gbagyi) people trace their origins to Nupe kingdom”? Use historical facts to explain
Answer 2: The assertion that the Gbagyi (Gwari) people trace their origins to the Nupe Kingdom is not strongly supported by historical or anthropological evidence.
Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
1. Ethnic distinctness and indigenous identity
- The Gbagyi (or Gwari, a term derived from Hausa exonyms) are widely recognized as one of the indigenous peoples of central Nigeria, particularly in regions like Niger State, Kaduna State, and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja). Their oral traditions emphasize autochthony, claiming ancestral ties to the land they inhabit rather than migration from elsewhere.
- The Nupe Kingdom, in contrast, emerged as a centralized state along the Niger River by the 15th century, with a distinct language (Nupe, of the Volta-Niger family) and cultural identity. The Nupe expanded through the conquest and assimilation of neighboring groups, including parts of Gbagyi territory.
2. Historical interactions, not shared origins
- Nupe Influence and Conquest: The Nupe Kingdom exerted political and military dominance over parts of Gbagyi territory from the 16th to 19th centuries. This led to cultural exchanges (e.g., adoption of Nupe titles like Etsu by some Gbagyi chiefs) and intermarriage, but it did not imply a shared ethnic origin. The Gbagyi were often subjects or tributaries, not descendants of the Nupe.
- Resistance to Nupe rule: Historical accounts, including oral traditions, highlight Gbagyi resistance to Nupe expansion, particularly during the reign of Nupe rulers like Etsu Mu’azu (19th century). This suggests a separate identity rather than a common origin.
3. Linguistic evidence
- The Gbagyi language belongs to the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo family, while Nupe is part of the Volta-Niger branch. Though both are Niger-Congo languages, they are distinct and not mutually intelligible, indicating separate historical trajectories. Linguistic studies suggest the Gbagyi language has closer ties to neighboring groups like the Koro and Yeskwa than to the Nupe.
4. Archaeological and anthropological data
- Material culture, such as traditional pottery, architecture (e.g., circular mud houses), and religious practices (e.g., worship of Shekwoi, a supreme deity), distinguishes the Gbagyi from the Nupe. The Nupe, influenced by Islamic and Hausa traditions, developed distinct artistic styles (e.g., intricate beadwork) and a centralized monarchy.
5. Colonial misinterpretations
- European colonial administrators and early ethnographers sometimes conflated ethnic identities based on political subjugation. The term “Gwari” (a Hausa label) was applied broadly to groups in central Nigeria, leading to confusion. Nupe dominance in the region may have contributed to erroneous assumptions about Gbagyi origins.
VERDICT:
The Gbagyi people do not trace their origins to the Nupe Kingdom. Instead, their relationship was characterized by interaction, conflict, and occasional cultural exchange due to the Nupe territorial expansion. The Gbagyi maintain a distinct ethnic identity rooted in their indigenous heritage, supported by linguistic, archaeological, and oral historical evidence. Claims of Nupe origins likely arise from conflating political influence with ethnic genealogy.
