The effects of the Nupe invasion of 1860 on Auchi indigenous names and modes of clothing

Abstract

Any one who is familiar with the sociocultural history of Auchi in the twentieth century must be aware of the dominant influence of Islam in the area. Indeed, Auchi has been one of the most Islamised communities in the Afenrriai area of present-day northern Edo State. In fact, so overwhelming has been the influence of Islam in the area that it reflects on virtually all facets of the sociocultural lives and institutions of the people. 

Two of such heavily Islamised sociocultural institutions and value systems of the Auchi have been the names and modes of clothing of the people. In addition to these, have been the Nupe/Hausa/Fulani names and modes of clothing, which spread, along with Islam, to Auchi through the Nupe invasion of the area and, indeed, of the entire Afenmailand in 1860. These emergent Muslim/Nupe/Hausa/Fulani names and modes of clothing have become so-widely entrenched and pervasive in Auchi that they have over-shadowed and relegated the
indigenous Auchi names and modes of clothing, which came into being before the Nupe invasion of 1860.

This paper seeks to re-appraise the Nupe invasion of 1860 in the context of the effects which it had on the Auchi indigenous names and modes of clothing in the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.