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7412 - The Jukun Kingdom

The document discusses the Jukun kingdom, which was located in present-day Nigeria and descended from the Kwararfa people. The Jukun had a highly organized political structure led by the Aku king and were known for their military prowess and slave trading. However, a combination of factors such as wars, famine, the end of slave trading, and the Fulani Jihad contributed to the decline and fall of the Jukun kingdom in the 19th century.

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67 views3 pages

7412 - The Jukun Kingdom

The document discusses the Jukun kingdom, which was located in present-day Nigeria and descended from the Kwararfa people. The Jukun had a highly organized political structure led by the Aku king and were known for their military prowess and slave trading. However, a combination of factors such as wars, famine, the end of slave trading, and the Fulani Jihad contributed to the decline and fall of the Jukun kingdom in the 19th century.

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winmaduemezia
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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THE JUKUN KINGDOM

The jukun are traditionally located in Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa in Nigeria. They are descendants of the
people of Kwararfa. Most of the tribes in the north central of Nigeria trace their origin to the jukun
people and are related in one way or the other to the jukuns.

The jukuns are divided into two major groups; The jukuns Wanu and the jukuns Wapa. The jukun wanu
are the fishermen residing along the banks of the river Benue and Niger where they run through Taraba
state, Benue state and Nasarawa state. The wukari federation, headed by the Aku Uka of wukari, is now
the main center of the jukun people.

Origin of jukun kingdom

It is strongly believed that at least a section of the jukun were among the early inhabitants of the chad
basin,the jukun however, eventually moved from their chad basin area and settled in the Gongola
valley.By the 13th century they were well established in the Gongola basin within the early towns of
jalingo.

The political structure of jukun kingdom

The history of the jukun people is quite remarkable. They are among the few Nigerian communities or
groups whose politico-cultural influences had spread beyond their ethnic borders.

1. The king and his advisers; Jukun kingdom had a well-organized government with the Aku as the
king. The Aku was advised by a patrician group headed by the Abo Achuwo ( prime minister)
who were their representative in their relations with their Aku and in all ritual and war.The Abo
acted as a check on the excesses of the Aku.

2. The priest; Another group that curtailed the power of the Aku were priests who could
undermine the Aku power by merely exposing the royal relics. The priests were also important
in the government of the jukun because they represented spirits whom the people including the
Aku were expected not to offend. If there was drought or any calamity the priest had to find out
the cause and if the cause came the Aku, the priest would punish him.So the Aku must be in
complete harmony with the priest
3. The officials: The sacredness of the Aku was another factors that limited his powers and
authority. He was not to be approached directly by his people but through a chain of officials,
The officials controlled the flow of information between the Aku and his people
4. Local government: The jukuns chiefdom or community had its own chief, advised by councilors
made up of elders and religious dignitaries. The acknowledged the religious as well as the
political leadership of the Aku of Wukari.
5. The military: The jukun were essentially military people. Their highly organized cavalry helped to
raid, terrorize and conquer their neighboring states. They supplied them with slaves in
exchange.

The factors that contribute to the rise of the jukun kingdom

1. Slave Trade : The major source of wealth of the jukun during the period was slave trade . From
their wars, raids, the jukun procured a lot of slaves whom they sold to their northern neighbors
and to the Calabar middlemen of the Atlantic slave trade period. Wealth also came from war
loots and booties from the areas they conquered.
2. Taxation and tributes: Another important source of revenue was taxation and tributes from
conquered areas, for instance, it was said that the jukun attacked kano when they refused to
pay tribute to it.
3. Agriculture: A lot of wealth was also generated through agriculture. Due to the rich fertile soils
of the area, they were able to produce enough food for local consumption and surplus for
export to neighboring states. They produced such food crops as groundnuts, pepper, rice, corn,
yams and beni-seeds. Other agricultural products included ivory, ostrich feathers, hides. Cotton
and indigo
4. Salt production: Before the European salt began to be imported into Nigeria, It was believed
that salt from the jukun area was one of the most important commodities sold in both Benue
and Niger areas. The jukun area had a large number of salt springs, marshes and pools
5. Canoe Building and fishing: Some jukun communities like the Wurbo specialized in canoe
building and fishing, this occupation added a lot to the revenue and weailth of the jukun
kingdom

Decline of jukun kingdom.

The factors responsible for the fall of jukun kingdom

1. Series of war: The series of war fought by jukun contributed in no small way to weaken the very
foundation of the kingdom.
2. Nature of political structure: The nature of jukun political structure and organization contributed
to it falls.The kingdom was not centralized. But rather a loosely held confederacy of many
autonomous chieftainies. As a result when external enemies struck, the kingdom quickly
disintegrated.
3. Famine: The famine that occurred within that period, the neglect of agriculture caused by the
wars, and the depopulation resulting from these wars, contributed immensely to the decline of
the power of jukun kingdom.
4. Concentration on rituals: From the 17th century, the leaders of the empires wasted much time
on rituals, ceremonies and the acquisition of pompous tittle to the neglect and detriment of the
military efforts
5. Replacement of slave Trade: In the 19th century, the slave trade which had earlier formed the
backbone of the jukun economy and wealth was replaced with trade in palm oil, palm kernel
and other raw materials. This change profoundly affected the jukun economy and hastened
jukuns fall.
6. The Fulani jihad: The collapse of the kingdom was completed by the Fulani jihad of uthman Dan
fodio who conquered the jukun kingdom and reduced it to an emirate of the sokoto caliphate in
the 19th century.

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