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Tsoede, also known as Tsudi, Tsade or Edegi or Ichado in Igala language, (b. 1496 c.1591) is a legendary African leader. He was the first person to unite the
Nupe people The Nupe (traditionally called the ''Nupawa'' by the Hausas and ''Tapa'' by the neighbouring Yoruba) are an ethnic group native to the Middle Belt of Nigeria. They are the dominant ethnic group in Niger State and a minority in Kwara State. T ...
, and is considered the first Etsu Nupe, ruler of the
Nupe Kingdom The Bida Emirate is a traditional state in Nigeria, a successor to the old Nupe Kingdom, with its headquarters in Bida, Niger State. The head of the state is the Etsu Nupe, considered the leader of the Nupe people. History The old Nupe Kingdom ...
, between the
Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languagesKaduna Kaduna is the capital city of Kaduna State, and the former political capital of Northern Nigeria. It is located in north-western Nigeria, on the Kaduna River. It is a trade Centre and a major transportation hub as the gateway to northern Nig ...
rivers in what is now central Nigeria. His father was a prince of
Igala The International Gender and Language Association (IGALA), is an international interdisciplinary academic organization that promotes research on language, gender, and sexuality. Claire Maree is its current president. History The association was ...
, and his mother was a Nupe maiden. He was brought up among the Nupe. The
Igala people The Igálá are one of the ethnic groups found in Nigeria. The Igala played significant roles in the formation of Nigeria having been made host to the capital of Nigeria at Lokoja in the past, with Lugard as the Governor. The Igala Kingdom expa ...
required a regular
tribute A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of land which the state conq ...
of slaves from the Nupe, and Tsoede was sent as a slave to the Igala capital
Idah Idah is a town in Kogi State, Nigeria, on the eastern bank of the Niger River in the middle belt region of Nigeria. It is the headquarter of the Igala Kingdom, and also a Local Government Area with an area of 36 km. Idah had a population ...
. There, he was recognised by his father, now the Atta (king), and his father took him into his palace. He rose in favour and became
heir apparent An heir apparent, often shortened to heir, is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person; a person who is first in the order of succession but can be displaced by the b ...
, but was forced to flee after the father's death. He settled in Nupeko, where he killed the chief – his uncle – and made himself ruler. He united all the Nupe people to throw off the Igala yoke, and as the Etsu of Nupe established the Nupe Kingdom. Tsoede is credited with bringing the art of bronze casting and making canoes to the Nupe. He died on a military expedition in 1591 in an unknown geographical location.


References

{{authority control 1591 deaths 16th-century monarchs in Africa 16th-century Nigerian people Etsu Nupe