A kingdom in West Africa, now part of Nigeria. According to tradition, Nupe was founded in the 16th century by Tsoede, who died in 1591 aged 120; he built Gbara and conquered a large amount of territory. Raba, the capital, became highly prosperous. Its wealth was largely dependent on wars to collect prisoners to sell as slaves. In the early 19th century the Fulani asserted overlordship, leading to bitter struggles for independence.