Lapai | |
|---|---|
Emirate | |
  Lapai Location in Nigeria | |
| Coordinates:8°49′N6°41′E / 8.817°N 6.683°E /8.817; 6.683 | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| State | Niger State |
| Government | |
| • Type | Traditional state |
| • Etsu | Umaru Bago Tafida |
TheLapai Emirate, today inNigeria, is a traditional state that lies near theGurara River, a tributary to theNiger River, formerly originally inhabited whereGbari People, and presently came under the power of Nupe people, covering roughly the same area as the modernLapai local government area.
In the 1790s theNupe Kingdom was a rising power in the region and had taken Lapai fromOyo. However, with the onslaught of theFulani Jihad their lands, including Lapai, were conquered by theSokoto Caliphate.[1]The people of the region became subject to the Hausa kingdom ofZazzau. After 1804 they came under theFulani emirate ofZaria, part of the realm of the emir ofGwandu. The Lapai emirate was separated from the emirates ofZaria andAgaie in 1825.[2]The emirate was founded in 1828 when Mallam Baba sent his Lieutenant Daudu Muza to subjugate the area. Daudu was successful, but kept the land for himself.[3]The emirate remained a tributary to theGwandu emirate until 1903, when the British took control.[4]
The emirate remains in existence, although it was subject first to British colonial rule and later to civilian or military rule of the independent state of Nigeria. Emirs were:[5]