The Bassa Nge are an ethnic group in Nigeria that traces its history back to 1805. They originally inhabited Gbara which was formerly the capital of the Nupe Kingdom. The Bassa Nge migrated from their homeland in Bida due to a dynastic feud in about 1820. They are formerly the largest of Nupe groups, with a population of about 15,000 in 1820 before they dispersed throughout Nigeria.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
They speak two languages: The Nupe-Tako dialect of the Nupe language of the Volta-Niger languages and the Bassa Nge (or Bassa Nupe) dialect of the Basa language in the Kainji languages (all of the Niger-Congo and Benue-Congo group of West African languages).
In 2017, Bassa Nge Community North America (BNC) held an annual convention in Philadelphia which discussed progress of the community with more than 54 members and guests attending the convention. Their history came on when the BNC made a donations of over the counter (OTC) medicines in their headquarters clinic in Gboloko.[7][5]
In an interview with Ma’ade Yaila, a Bassa-Nge daughter stated that her language has its roots from Nupe.[8]
They belongs to the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo family, the Bassa Nge traditional ruler is called Etsu unlike the Etsu Nupe called in Nupe too, the language is not similar with the one Bassa Nkomo which they lived in the same geographical place. The Bassa-nge can be found in Niger river and conflict of river Benue, they lived in Bassa local government and majority in Lokoja.[9][10]
The present Etsu of Bassa-nge in Bassa is Brig. Abu Ali.[10] One among the children of the incumbent Etsu Bassa-Nge Col. Muhammad Abu Ali, was the one that lead the 221 battalion tank to fight against Boko Haram in Borno and died in 2016 together with five soldiers, the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello condoled the family of Etsu of Bassa-Nge Kingdom Brig Gen. Abu Ali (Rtd) over the death of Col. Muhammed Abu Ali his first son.[11]
The history of BassaNge is available in Stanford University libraries.[12][13]
The Bassa-Nge People have their traditional ruler at Gboloko and the traditional ruler title is called “Etsu Bassa-Nge”. And the present Etsu of Bassa-Nge in Bassa is Rtd.Brig. Abu Alii.[citation needed]
- ^ Habi, Yaʼakub Hassan (2006). The people called Bassa-Nge. Tamaza Pub. Company Limited. ISBN 978-978-2104-64-9.
- ^ Mu'azu, Mohammed Aminu, 1968- (2012). A descriptive grammar of the Bassa-nge language. Lincom Europa. ISBN 978-3-86288-163-5. OCLC 793585119.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ The people called Bass a Nge, Y.H. (2006). Tamaza Publishing Company United: Wusasa Zaria: Nigeria
- ^ Eric, Teniola (2018-03-06). "How Ogbeha and wife begged Babangida to create Kogi State". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ a b "Nigeria: You can't fill a Pick-Up (Story of BassaNge". ThisDay- Daily Trust. 2010-01-22. Retrieved 17 February 2020 – via Allafrica.com.
- ^ Azu, Ishiekwene (2019-11-14). "Why Bello Is Coming Back, And Bayelsa May Fall, By Azu Ishiekwene - Premium Times Opinion". Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ "Our History". bassa-nge. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ BellaNaija.com (2018-08-02). "BN Presents Beyond the Three: Discover Bassa People of Kogi As Told by Ma'ade". BellaNaija. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ "Igala | people". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ a b "Kogi guber: Ata Igala confers chieftaincy title on former Naval boss » Latest News » Tribune Online". Tribune Online. 2019-08-17. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ "Governor Bello mourns death of Lt. Col Abu Ali". Vanguard News. 2016-11-06. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ Mu'azu, Mohammed Aminu (2012). A descriptive grammar of the Bassa-nge language /. Muenchen: Lincom Europa. ISBN 978-3-86288-163-5.
- ^ Mu'azu, Mohammed Aminu, 1968- (2012). A descriptive grammar of the Bassa-nge language. Juma'a, Jidda Hassan., Tebu, Suleman. Muenchen: Lincom Europa. ISBN 978-3-86288-163-5. OCLC 793585119.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)