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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Gogo Habiba of Bida: The Rise and Demise of a Nineteenth Century Nupe Merchant Princess and Politician |
Author: | Idrees, Aliyu A. |
Year: | 1991 |
Periodical: | African Study Monographs |
Volume: | 12 |
Issue: | 1 |
Pages: | 1-9 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Nigeria |
Subjects: | slavery Nupe polity women rulers biographies (form) Women's Issues History and Exploration Economics and Trade Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Politics and Government Historical/Biographical Cultural Roles economics |
About person: | Gogo Habiba |
External link: | https://jambo.africa.kyoto-u.ac.jp/kiroku/asm_normal/abstracts/pdf/ASM%20%20Vol.12%20No.1%201991/Aliya%20A.%20IDREES.pdf |
Abstract: | Since the rise of the Nupe kingdom in central Nigeria in the fifteenth century, women have played a prominent role in the socioeconomic development of the area. Their dominance in trade and commerce did not, however, give them any functional role in political affairs. In the nineteenth century, with the establishment of the emirate system, the situation changed and women were given specific and well-defined functions in society. This served as a springboard for one woman of note, Princess Gogo Habiba. 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 the Lagos slave coast. Towards the end of the century, her career was brought to an end through the combined efforts of various interest groups, principal amongst whom were the British. Bibliogr., ref. |