Gogo Habiba of Bida: The Rise and Demise of a nineteenth Century Nupe Merchant Princess and Politician

Abstract

Since the rise of the Nupe kingdom in Central Nigeria region in the fifteenth century, women have played a prominent role in the socio-economic development of the area. Notwithstanding the traditional values of the society that restricted them from active politics, it is a well known fact that Nupe women have continued to dominate the trade and commerce of the region. Indeed, until the end of the nineteenth century, there was hardly any Nupe settlement where a cluster of wealthy women traders did not exist. Nonetheless, this position did not give them any functional role in the political affairs of the sociiety. However, the situation changed in the nineteenth century to give women specific and well-defined functions in the society. This served as a spring board on which a woman of note, Princess Gogo Habiba, rose to the limelight in the political and economic affairs of the Nupe society. Throughout the second half of the nineteenth century, she dominated Nupe politics and distinguished herself as an accomplished slave merchant with trading links spreading outside Nupeland to Lagos slave coast. Towards the end of the century, her career was brought to an end through the combined efforts by various interest groups, principal amongst whom were the British.