The Nupe Kingdom is established in the middle of the fifteenth century in a basin between the Niger and Kaduna rivers in what is now central Nigeria.

Early history is mostly based on verbally-transmitted legends.

King Jibiri, who reigns around 1770, is the first Nupe king to become Muslim.

Etsu Ma’azu brings the kingdom to its period of greatest power, dying in 1818.

During this period the Fulani are gaining power across Northern Nigeria.

After Ma’azu's death and during the subsequent wars of succession the Nupe Kingdom comes under the control of the Gwandu Emirate.