Friday 15 November 2013

BOOK REVIEW: NUPE HERITAGE DICTIONARY (NUPE – ENGLISH) [EGANYEKPE NUPE (NUPE – NASARA)]



PAGES: 713

AUTHOR: SOLOMON ADAMA YISA

PUBLISHER: KOCHITA RESOURCES LIMITED

YEAR: 2013

REVIEWER: ISYAKU BALA IBRAHIM

June 20th, 2013 will be remembered as the day the heavens and the earth greeted a progeny of the Nupe land who broke almost a century jinx by presenting to the world a Heritage of the Nupe Nation, the Tapas as the Yoruba people will call them, while the Hausas brand them as the Nufawa, the peer of the realm of the Niger River. It was a day that an indigenous language received a gargantuan boost with the presentation and well received colossal tome.  Nupe being one of the major languages in the country, I was looking forward to this day since I was beckoned by the organizers to attend, and before our very own eyes it came and gone. But this gift will remain as posterity beckons. It is a gift to Nigeria, most specifically the Nupe people. The author might not grab the wide gap his book will viaduct since the very first time a dictionary of this kind was published over a century ago. Though, Right Rev. Samuel Ajayi Crowther (p.77) pioneered writing of Nupe lexicon in his grammar book which had a comprehensive Vocabulary section of (English to Nupe) from A to Z (Crowther, 1864.37-208).  The book triggered intellectual discourse among scholars and evangelists on the importance of the language to the Church mission in the Niger Territories particularly in the Nupe Country, which eventually led to his translation of Gospel of John (of the Bible) into Nupe language in 1877.
However, the actual first ever Nupe Dictionary was published in 1914 by the ever-inspiring evangelist, lexicographer and polyglot, A.W. Banfield (p. 41) who spent over two decades in Nupe-land particularly at Tsonga and Patigi towns in the current Kwara State. The first volume of the dictionary is a 514page book. By 1916, the same author published the second volume of the book. Since then there was no person that has published any serious work like that, and no attempt was done to have several editions of the dictionary, as having several editions of a particular dictionary has being the custom of most language dictionaries around the world. For instance, the Oxford Advanced Learner English Dictionary is in its eighth or ninth edition today since its first publication in 1948.
            Ambassador Solomon Adama Yisa has succeeded in bringing to the fore this doable escapade by breaking a century gremlin in the continuous documentation and preservation of the Kingdom’s custom in an inimitable way entrenched in 713 leaves bedecked in words and ink. An effort no citizen of the kingdom has done before. And, I learnt he laboured for two decades to achieve this goal, and the nation now cheers his lexical triumph. No wonder he holds the title of Etan2 Nupe (p.200) - the custodian of Nupe history conferred on him by the dynamic and inspiring leader, the janitor of the Nupe Kingdom, Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Dr. Yahaya Abubakar, CFR. It is important to note that the publication of this book is a heavy blow to ignorance that had for too long perpetuated its darkness on Nigerians on the heritage of the Nupe people; it is a thrust of light that have suddenly consumed this darkness, and thus enriched Nupe lexicology.
The unique features of this dictionary aside the traditional pouring of words and grammatical phrases, one finds names of legends, cultural names, communities, plants, animals, just name it within and outside Nupeland compacted in it. The matchlessness of the book lays these embedded features that define and celebrate the treasured customs of the Kingdom.
The legends and the monarchs of pre-Tsoede Nupe Empire were not included in the book as there are no explicit record containing the names and reigns of such kings found yet. The few documents around stated that they were very tough and uncompromising. For instance, in 1352, Ibn Batuta, a North African Arab explorer wrote in his famous travelogue on the kings of the Nupe nation, though, there were some defects in his documentation of the names of the popular empires and kingdoms he visited then. He stated thus, “Thence the Nile [Niger] descends to Tumbuktu [Timbuktoo] and Gawgaw [Gogo], both of which will be described later; then to the town of Muli in the land of the Limis, which is the frontier province of [the kingdom of] Malli; thence to Yufi [Nupe], one of the largest towns of the negroes, whose ruler is one of the most considerable of the negro rulers. It cannot be visited by any white man because they would kill him before he got there.” (Ibn Batutah, 1356. 317-323).
However, this dictionary gave comprehensive list of legends which included the founder of the Nupe Kingdom, Etsu Edegi Tsoede (p.609) who founded the Kingdom in ca.1500 at Nku after unifying the communities under a confederation. This legend was followed by Etsu Jibirilu (p.322) in the1560s, who happened to be the first Etsu Nupe to convert to Islam together with many of his followers at that period. Then there was Etsu Jigba1625-1670 (p.322). Other kings followed and shaped the kingdom such as Etsu Jimada 1760-1805 (p.323) who reigned at Gbara, and Etsu Majiya reigned 1767 - 1777 (p.445), during their reigns the kingdom witnessed decades of civil wars in the battle for this powerful throne until the intervention of a Fulani Scholar, Malam Dendo (p.95) popularly known as Manko (Great Scholar or Malam) who came into the Kingdom and thus won the hearts of the Nupes and ensured a smooth transition from the ancient Nupe Etsuship to the Fulanis without bloodshed and he died in 1832.
Other personalities which comprise people that have made Nigeria and the kingdom proud most especially those who we share in the broad destiny of a country together and who at different periods became leaders of this great nation. However, out of all the past leaders mentioned such as: Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (p.28), born in Dunguru (Zungeru) in Niger State; then Chief Obafemi Awolowo (p.26), Sir Ahmadu Bello (p.51), the Northern Nigeria Premier etc. The only leader I deemed not worthy of mentioning was the late General Muhammad Sani Abacha (p.2) most especially that reference was not made to October 1st, 1996, the date he refused this vibrant kingdom a state. He announced the creation of six new states one from each geopolitical zone of the country. We were very hopeful that when it comes to North-Central, Ndaduma State will not be denied it well deserved right of formal existence, only to hear Nasarawa state mentioned instead. The Kingdom was humiliated and our collective hope dashed. That broadcast will remain in our hearts for many more years to come. We might have moved-on from that shock, but late Abacha remained in the wrong-side of our collective minds as Nupe people. Though! We will not forget this happenstance but we have honestly forgiven him and may his soul find rest with the Almighty Allah. Amin!
The names of our heroes and heroines greeted me as I flip through this book and the great achievements of some who struggled to see that Nigeria gained its independence and for democracy to reign in our polity in the first and second republics, and to date. The likes of Alhaji Aliyu Makaman Bida1906-1980 (p.17, 446) the World War II veteran,  the Deputy Premier of Northern Nigeria, the first Northern Ministers of Education and Finance, and the NPC National Treasurer. He is about the only Nigerian that attended all Nigeria’s constitutional conferences both in Nigeria and United Kingdom from 1953 to 1977 that resulted into our independence in 1960 and nurtured it which culminated into the first and second republics despite the unfortunate events in the process. The civil war would not have ended without his leading role in Northern Consultative Committee set up that calmed the north down as he toured and consulted with his people and leaders of the region agitated as a result of the massacre of Nigerian patriots by some terrorists, despites the fact that his friends and colleagues were the victim of the rootless mutiny. He was the founding father of the two parties that won in the first and second republics: NPC and NPN respectively. In fact, it will not be out of place to state here categorically that Alhaji Aliyu Makaman Bida is the Father of Modern Nigeria. There are also the likes of Malam Abubakar Dzukogi 1917 – 1978 (p.111), the radical Prince of the Nupe Kingdom, and the former Ciroman Nupe, the NEPU Chieftain who served as its first General Secretary with Malam Aminu Kano as the National President; Alhaji Ahman Galadiman Pategi 1914 – 1977 (p.11), former NPC General Secretary, and Northern Health Minister; the name continue till dates.  
There are also those who have contributed immensely to journalism in the country, people like ace columnist, Mohammad Haruna  (p.310), former press secretary to the former Head of State, General Abdulsamalami Abubakar (p.5), and former MD at Citizen and the New Nigeria companies;  Malam Mahmud Turi Muhammadu 1940 - 2010, (p.467) the former MD at the New Nigeria Ltd; Alhaji Kere Baba Ahmed 1942- 2003 (p., the former Garkuwan Nupe, he joined Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NPC) in 1962,the  former Executive Director-Finance and Administration at NTA, and retired voluntarily in 1994; Sam Nda-Isaiah  (p.485), the Kakaki Nupe, the radical pressman, and the proprietor, chairman and CEO of Leadership Group, the publishers of Leadership newspapers; Alhaji Usman Baba Patigi, MON (p.528) , popularly known as ‘Samanja’ in the 1980s and 90s,  a veteran artist that served at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Kaduna for over 40 years and lots more.
As flipping through the pages of this tome continued, I came across some of our heroines like Gogo Habiba Sabachi of 1830s (p.291), the famous daughter of the founder of the Fulani Dynasty in Nupe Kingdom, Malam Dendo; Hajiya Gambo Sawaba, 1933-2001 (p.249), the former NEPU Woman Leader, a women activist  and social worker; Hajiya Amina Ahmed Iyami, MFR (p.12); Dr. (Mrs.) Sarah  Jibril (p.321); Amina Lami Abdullahi PhD (p.3) , a lecturer and Dean at Kaduna Polytechnic; Hajiya Senator Zaynab Abdulkadir Kure, the first female Senator from the Kingdom, the proprietor of Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES), a model to beat which has trained and empowered over 15,000 youths across Niger State since its inception in 2001. She was the former first-lady of Niger State 1999-2007, and a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And so many others…
The book also has extensive collection of local names and some of the feminine ones are Abiba (p.4), Abu1 (p.5), Adama1 (p.7) Adi (p.8), Dzuma (p.111), Fewo (p.234), Nko (p.499), Wodu (p.641), Zagi (p.680) etc.; while Aba (p.2), Abaniwo (p.2), Ceceko, Chado (p.67), Gana1 (p.249), Kolo2 (p.366), Legbo1 (p.427), Nagya (p.474), Ndayako, Ndayebo (p. 493) Tsado (p.603) Turi (p.622), Yisa(p.674), Zaki etc. are few of the masculine names from it.
Zoologists and botanists will also be amazed with the omnibus of animal and plant species in Nupe language with their scientific names for reference and easy understanding. The different animal species such as fish starts with bantala – African knife fish (p.43), then bola – silver catfish (p.61) and ends with zhengi - catfish (p.686). Other classes and species therein included eluzhi (birds); ewazhi (snakes); étsúzhi (rodents); dangizhi (cats); zuzungizhi (ants); etc.  On the side of the plants, one finds therein chigbanzhi (trees), égózhi (grasses), chigbangizhi (shrubs), egwatagizhi/élízhi (vines) etc. For instance it begins with plant seed - abata /an edible kola nut/(cola acuminate – p.2), then tamboyakagi (moringa oleifera – p.589), and in the last pages it had plants like yerenkpe/ nettle vine/(p.666), and zanci/deciduous tree/(p.681) etc.
It will not possible for me to put out everything in the book in this review but I will say that the book is a treasure to behold.

The General Observations:
There is no endevour without leaks, no matter how well packaged, done or thorough, there is bound to be one or two signs of imperfections, the minuses. Therefore, after all the pluses in this all important thesaurus, the following observations could help in the subsequent editions of the book:
i.        Absence of accent/diacritical marks - how will porridge taste without draw-soup to aid the swallowing? How can one enjoy eating uncooked food? That is exactly what written kwa language is without diacritical/accent marks. The language losses its taste, flavour, and essence, and it ability to communicate with the other. nevertheless, this is what the author wrote in the preface, “…and one of the principal reason for this problematic development is perhaps the inconsiderate insistence on the part of Nupe scholars to the effect that Nupe literature must at all costs maintain its use of diacritical marks of intonation even in the field of popular vernacular Nupe literature. The use of diacritical marks in popular literature is unrealistic. And if a popular Nupe literature must be effected in KinNupe, then their use for now must be relegated to only to the academic, liturgical and broadcasting circles, to which it is still confined today. Incidentally, it has been real turn-offs to most readership…” I wonder how Nupe language will develop without an important aspect of it. It is like a body without a soul. The fact that African languages are referred to as ‘tone languages’ shows that their tonal systems which diacritical marks effectively convey are very-very importance to the language and the speakers than the ‘academics, liturgical and broadcasting circles.’ One cannot divorce a fundamental nature of a thing and expect that thing to be functional. One cannot throw away the tones and expect excellence in the learning tonal language like Nupe. The Chinese, the Japanese and the Arabians all have more troublesome vowels and marks than the Nupes, but they have succeeded in using it to the benefit of their peoples to the later, and today they have developed effervescent literary cultures within and across their shores.
ii.      Letter Q (q): one also observes that the author used the letter and described it as ‘the seventeenth letter of the Nupe alphabet...” (p.535) and under it twelve words were explained in all. The fact is, the use of letter q is alien to almost all the ‘kwa’ languages of the Niger-Congo which has the same ancestral lineage according to ethnologists. Languages like Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Nupe are not exception to the letter-q apathy. These languages simply do not have that letter in their grammatical and morphological structures. The sound that is nearer to the letter is the double consonant ‘kw’ as in the word - kwakwa (coconut) in Hausa, kwankwa1 – crow (p.410) in Nupe. The early Nupe scholars did not include Q in their alphabetical order in their published works. Bishop Samuel Crowther itemized letters used in his Nupe Grammar - letter Q was not included even in its vocabulary section (Crowther, 1864.7). The same applied to Banfield and Macintyre in their Nupe grammar book of 1915.
iii.    The date of General Muhammad Sani Abacha’s death is not July 1998 (p.2) > the former military leader died on June 8, 1998.
iv.    Sheikh (Dr)           Ahmed Lemu’s highest  national honours is OFR not MON (p.429)
v.      Gabas/East/ also Eyilozun (p.246): thus it cannot be eyilozun because it means the ‘west’ (p.222) in Nupe, while eyilazhin means the east. eyilozun can best be described in that portion as the /op./opposite of the East not /also/. The word ‘also’ is misleading.
vi.    Gbogi/baboon/mandrill/(p.278): Gbògi means gorilla, while kanna means a baboon/mandrill. In the explanation of the word rogbogi (p.539) it means chimpanzee or gorilla and it short for is ‘gbogi’.
vii.  Kako (p.336) is not ‘a specie of vulture,’ but an ‘eagle’ (Banfield & Macintyre, 1915.161), also called Idìnko (Crowther, 1864.65).
viii.Explanation in the reference cf. ‘dodobyaria’ in fadanchi (p.230) cannot be found.
ix.    The technical meaning of nnakun1 (p.501), it is a ‘war commander’, someone that motivates others in the warfront.
x.      The issue of negative maker such as (à or a) which stands for ‘not,’ turns a positive article or word into negative. The addition of (a) as suffix cannot make the action a word as you showed in nyandondo as nyandondo a in (p.514).
xi.    Another issue is the use of these words: ndo/ndoro and ndondo (p.494). Each has it grammatical stands. Ndo or ndoro means ‘any’ it signifies singular reference with specifics, while ndondo stands for ‘every’, a collective. For instance, these words bandondo/ ebandondo, and bandoro/ebandoro, (p.40-41), the author gave the same meaning or probably suggests that they can be used interchangeably. But in the actual sense ebadoro/bandoro should have been ‘anywhere’, while ebandondo/bandondo- should be ‘everywhere’.

xii.  On personalities and places:
a.       There were lots of observations on the assemblage of persons whose critical identities were not shown, and who were not actually Nupe and their actual language was not indicated, and this could in the future create identity crises.
b.      There could be contestable arguments and issues on Bayajida described as a ‘Nupe Governor’ (p.48) which could be considered as an incredible historical myth. Some Hausa language historians have contested a popularly held view of Bayajida being the founder of Hausa let alone Nupe.  The only person that held this unpopular opinion prior to the publication of this book was one Dr.? Ndagi Abdullahi, the author of a controversial book Nupe, The Origin; who in his tripod site (http://drndagiabdullahi.tripod.com/id64.html) wrote “Bayajida was Nupe: How the Hausaman originated from Nupe,” with no any reference given to support this claim. So, it became troublesome when the same unpopular assertion appeared in this important book.
c.       Other controversial subjects in this book which are likely to generate debates today and in the future are: Daura (p.91), Femi (p.234), /Gwarinpa (p.307), Ife, Ifa, Igala, Igbira, Ile-Ife (p.315),  /Ilorin (p.316),/ Itsekeri (p.317), /Kambaja (p.337), Kano (p.342), Katsina (p.350) /Oduduwa2 (p.520), /Nda2 (p.480), /Ndaduma 6. (p.482); /Onitsha (p.522), /Oyo (p.523), etc…
2.      Typographical Errors
i.        The date of Umar, Etsu 1034 – 1954 (p.626).
ii.      Hohammed – in Elomi, Hohammed p.170 – it ought to be Mohammed
iii.    Mipkekin – in Emikpekin/landslide/p.175 – instead of mikpekin
iv.    Bindigatwsachi/gun-maker/(p.56) – it should be bindigatswachi
v.      Kapki – in Idris, Hon. Ndako Saidu/p.314 – it ought to be Kpaki, a village in Mokwa LGA
vi.    Imamture toad in Tanlegbelegi (p.591) – it should have been ‘immature’.
vii.  ‘Inetrj’ in re1 (p.537) – it ought to be ‘interj.’
viii.Tamkpolo:  in emagi - Tsaka-tamkpolo (p.172) and in another place Esangi-tankpolo (p.195), while Tankpolo/toad/(p.590)
ix.    opliostigma thonningii, the scientific name of Bafin (p.35) which should be piliostigma thonningii
x.      dryopterix filis-mars of Chintaragiama/chameleon’s tail/(p.77) which should be dryopteris filis-mas
xi.    potulaca oleracea of Fingi /purslane/ (p.237) which should have been Portulaca oleracea
xii.  Nyisagi - the variant of zagwa/zigzag/zagi (p.680) – instead of nyizagi (p.519).
xiii.fukpe-nyinzagizazhi /rape/p.242 – see also dzukogo/p.111, it ought to be fukpe-nyizagizazhi as in p.519
xiv.tupke/surplus/p.620 – it should be tukpe.
xv.  Wojin instead of wonjin in cf. of yaran /yellow colour/ (p.658).
xvi.Yistso – in explaining a pronoun - atso (p.25). It should have been yitso (ourselves – p.676) and etc.

3.      Too much use of Hausa words
Nupe language is endowed with suitable words for most of its actions and things around which thus makes the use of Hausa word equivalents undesirable in this iconic lexicon, which the author extensively used concurrently with the Nupe ones. Scholars referred to this kind of word usage as ‘foreign element’ influence (Banfield & Macintyre, 1915.12). In times like this that most of our indigenous languages are struggling from the threat of extinction from the influence of larger neighbouring languages, avoiding these elements could be the best for these threaten languages like Nupe. In doing this, it will curb the unnecessary lexical adaptation and stop the use of these words by the present and future language speakers or they could assume that they are part of the original language, most especially that reference was not made on the root of these words either from Hausa or Arabic in the dictionary. There is very high possibility that their use could in the near future have the capacity to down play even the genuine words of the language. For example, the use of the word talaka (Hausa) by most Nupe speakers today has overshadowed yajinci (Nupe) which both meant ‘the poor’. Therefore, here are some of the Hausa words with their equivalents in Nupe in the same book:
Angaza/assistance/ p.20 – bibajinre (p.52)/chewu (p.72)/ganmi2 (p.255)/
Angulu/vulture/p.21 – gulu (p.299)
Asara/misfortune/loss/p.23 – egwatso/zunya/
Aya/Tiger Nut/p.27 – Efa (p.135) / also efagi
Baligi/mature/ p.39 – ko1 (p.361) /nusa (p.507)/
Babanchi/difference/ (p.4) – rikpe/erikpe/ (p.538)
Barasa/alcohol drink/p.44 – ege2 (p.148)
Bayani/explanation/p.52 – egankpeyé/eganyekpe (p.142)
Biriki/brake/ p.57 – dzami (p.107-8)
Bukata/use/usage/ p.65 – etun1 (p.208)
Bulala/whip/cane/p.65 – sangi1 (p.553)
Buta/kettle/ p.66 – dáro (p.90)
Chacha/gamble/ p.67 – /ma/manya /betting/gamble/
Daba/animal/p.79 – nyakungi (p.512)
Dangi/kin/blood relation/ p.86 – yegi (p.663)
Delili/dalili/reason/ p.94 – ebóna (p.123)
Dudugi/source/root/p.103 – gbere (p.274)
Dudugiwa/investigation/p.103 – gberewa
Dukiya/wealth/material possession/p.103 – kafa1 (p.333) /éwóde (p.212)/ 
Dukiyadechi/wealthy person/rich/p.103 -  éwódechi (p.212) /
Fadanchi/sycophancy/ p.230 – dodobyarya/
Fasara/explanation/meaning/p.232 – eganyekpe (p.142)
Fayinta/knowledge/p.233 – kpikpe2 (p.390)/detikatun/
Firigita/restless/disturbance/p.238 – zhí/confuse/restless/wado/washe/
Fitina/unnecessary trouble/ p.239 – keyasa (p.355)
Forigaba/farigaba/disturb/troubled/p.241 – esungán (p.199)/ebayiba (p.119)/fushigban/
Fure/flower/p.243 – korola (p.372)
Fuska/fusika/face/p.244 – eye3 (p.217)
Fushi/fury/anger/p.244 – ewunzhe (p.215)
Gabas/east p.246 – eyilazhin (p.222)
Gangara/downward slope/ p.254 – kpan2 (p.379)
Ganima/spoils of war/p.254 – nyagagizhikun/
Garigadi/advice/warning/p.258 – gangba (p.254)
Goge/violin/p.291 – fyanfyangi/fyangi/
Gyara/repair/amendment/p.308 – yejin1 (p.663)/yiyejin (p.676)
Ilimi/knowledge/p.316 – kpikpe2 (p.390)
Izini/permission/p.317 – yami1 (p.657)/emiya (p.178)
Kalami/word/brief/comment/p.337 – emika/eganmika/
Karambani/risk/tricky/p.344 – gibi (p.284)
Karuwa/harlot/prostitute/p.345 – shankala/banvugi/kpwadzwa/
Katifa/mattress/p.349 – tinti
Kato/giant/p.349 – èkí/edá
Kila/wotakila/maybe/possibly/p.356 – ko5 (p.361)
Kotonchi/example/explanation/p.374 – ke3 (352)/aniga (p.21)
Kumbuli/kumburi/anger/p.399 – san4 (p.552)
Kusuruwa/corner/direction/p.405 – kpangwa/kasangwa/
Kuturu/leper/p.408 – Sòkógunchi (p.576)
Ladabi/reverence/respect/honour/p.414 – éyè/sensible/, ekpeda/reverence/, dakpe/revere/
Lisafi/calculation/arithmetic/p.432 – lò/enyalò/
Lokaci/time/p.434 – kami (p.337)/èká6 (p.159)
Machachi- matsiyachi /pauper/ p.442 – yajinchi (p.656)
Madadachi-madedechi /sufficient/right amount/ p.442 – makamagi/makanmagi (p.446)
Mafari/first/ p.442 – níchi/ nìníchi/chaba (p.67)
Mako/miser/p.447 – nyabotan (p.510)
Makogoro/Adam’s apple/ p.443 – kpatsunko/bereko/
Makiri/enemy/adversary/ p. 447 – ewunsunchi (p.215)
Mamaki/strange/ p.449 – yeka1(p.663)
Marika/peak of rainy season/ p.454 – gbanma1 (p.269)
Mansiba/trouble/p.454 – keya(p.355)/kangara(p.339)
Mutunchi/benevolence/kindness/ p.471 – mana2(p.450)/ zagurubo(p.224)/
Raha/merriment/enjoyment/ p.536 – kpalemo/egwaya/nyagbanfa/
Rakumi/camel/ p.536 – rakun (p.537)
Rikichi/trouble/agitation/ p. 538 – keya(p.355)/kangara(p.339)
Rongomi/discount/reduction/ p.540 – chinke/chinwóke/chinwóya/chinzhinkin/
Rubutu/writing/ p.540 – enyaka (p.186)/ka1 (p.331)
Sarari/chance/opportunity/ p.558 – ebade/yapya/kafa/
Sarati/reason/excuse/ p.558 – ebóna/ebokibo (p.123)
Shani/festival/celebration/party/ p.563 – edzo1 (p.133)/kpalemo/mami1 (p.449)/
Shawura/counsel/advice/consultation/ p.563 – ezaba1 (p.222)/gangba (p.254) /
Shiru/noiseless/silence/ p.571 – sunsun (p.582)
Shugaba/leader/head/ p.572 – edzoshichi (p.134) /tishi (p.598)/
Sifa/type/kind/class/ p.573 – titi1/(p.599)/yiri (p.673)/dozhi (p.102)/
Tafi1 /palm of the hand/go/p.586 – gwanda (/lo
Taimako/assistance/help/ p. 586 – bajinre/(p.37)/chewu/(p.72) /
Takama/pride/ego/ p.587 – pe/(p.530) /gágà1/(p.248)
Takobi/sword/ p.588 – ebiko (p.121)
Talaka/poor/destitute/ p.589 – yajinchi (p.656)
Talauchi/poverty/ p.589 – yaji1 (p.656)
Tarihi/history/ p.593 – etan (p.200)
Tawaye/rebellion/revolt/ p.594 – kangara (p.339)
Tsakani/between/p.604 – gandan (p.253)
Tufuwa/cloth/dress/ p.620 – éwó/ede2 (p.128)/
Tumbi/belly/stomach/ p.621 – gbako1 (p.265)
Tunga/suburb/ p.621 –-ezhitako/ekpan/ban/bazuma/
Ture/abroad/oversea/p.622 – kinden(p.357)/kin-nasara(p.358)
Turumi/bundle of cloth/ p.623 – ede-tsukun
Wuzuri –uzuri /business/mission/ p.652 – etun1 (p.208) /woche (p.641)
Yamma /west/ p.657 – Eyilozun (p.222)
Yeda/yarda/agree/ p.662 – ye2 (p.661)
Zanba/mischief/ p.681 – wurunyebo/ (p.649)
Zwalunchi/zalunchi/cheating/deceiving/ p.696 – eyewon/eyewu (p.221)
And lots more…

Some English rooted Words
Kichini/kitchen/p.356 – Nancheta (p.477)
Namba1/number/count/ p.476 - ba1 (p.29)/ bàchi
Palo/parlour/p.525 –/katadunfe/katamba (p.347)/
Soyabin/Soybeans/p.580 – Ezosoya(p.228)
Suga/sugar/p.580 – esan-munugi literarily sweet salt (Crowther, 1864.118); also sanmáná
Teburu/table/p.595 – gando/sìnsara/(Crowther.1864.118), èsákó (Banfield & Macintyre, 1915.182)
Tela/tailor/p.595 – Enyakinci (Banfield & Macintyre, 1915.182) & (Crowther, 1864.119); it also called /edegunci/edekinci/
Telefon/telephone/p.595 – Esànwógi/
Television/p.595 – kpatisangi/kpantisànwó/kpati-esànwó/
Wunda/wundu/window/ p.648 - dzufa (p.110) also dzufági/kpébagi
And lots more…
However, I am with the opinion that these foreign elements should not have been included in this important reference material. For instance, words with Arabic roots such as aduwa – prayer (p.9), Alijena – paradise (p.16) Alimasihu - Jesus Christ (p.18), Alubarika – blessing, grace (p.18), annabi - prophet/messenger (p.22), malayika/manlayika – angel (p.447,452),  asiri – hidden (p.23) etc. are unique expressions unfamiliar to Africans until the coming of Islam, and whose influence have become useful.
4.      Some Missing Words in the Dictionary
Despite the fact that this dictionary is all inclusive, one still finds the following words in the categories of vocabulary, some plants and animals completely missing:
Awagbariya/pick-up van/
Balangi/young girls dance style involves tiptoeing and clapping of hands at the same time/
Banin/satisfy/assure/
Bansa/burst-in/mix-up/blend/merge/
Barika-sùdà/informal-greeting for farting/
Bori-zògun/bedwetting/
Bòpín/ridge/verb-work completion sign in the farm/
Bòpínla/labòpin/noun-sign of completing a task/
Cefu/chefu/unfertile/abandon farm land/
Chingi/fornicate/ - Egichin/ nyatsugicin/fornication/
Chinke/reduce/concession/
chinwóke/discount/
chinwóya/money off/price-cut/
chinzhin /reduction/2.calmdown/ markdown/
dakpè/revere/
Dànbo/big/large/
Dangba/fence/
Dankangi/surround/around/
Dantsunceya/cigbe ebaleye/medicine for extraterrestrial power to be able to see the hidden/
Dintukpa/warn/advise/ 
Dzakan-dzalugi/restless/wander/
Dzatin/discover/
Dzodzogi/pleasant/lovely/
Ebácin/matrimonial relationship/
Ebafin/bafin/sanitation/hygiene/cleanliness/sweepings/ - finba-verb/sweep/clean/
Ebanádanci/arson/
Èdìn/coded statement/speech spoken to conceal a fact from a person or peers/
Egankengi/clause/
Eganmika/sentence/
Egantukun/phrase/
Egiminá/1.informal - Scorn, stubborn person/ 2. Insult/3. Warning/
Egwa-tintiko/thumb/
Egwatso/1.misfortune/2. Quickness/promptness/
Ekinjin/injection/ also jinkin/inject/insert/
ekpeda/reverence/
Elako/acre/
Elakoti/boundary between acres/
Élí/vine/ 2./harvested leaves vine/ i.e. élí-guzha, élí-duku, etc.
Emika/word/
Enyabà/counting/counting system/
Enyalò/calculation/arithmetic/
Esù/cooked food ready for eating/
Esùdà/digested food/
Etansan/film/movie/
Etansanci/actor/
Etika/conviction/persuasion /- kati/convince/retract/persuade/
Ètswan/porridge/swallow-ball/
éyè/calm/sensible/
Eyigbóró/north/
Eyitakò/south/
Ezagwagbagi/poor/destitute/
Fanpa/fold/
Fini-mungoro/mark-female tattoo style that resembles mango-leave on the arm - old use/. The popular tattooist in the old times was one Gana Gozan popularly known as ‘Ya-Gana’ in the 1950s-70s from Etsu Babakudu area along Hajiya lolo area in Bida.
Firadi/fisòkó /satiate the meteorite power/
Fushigban/tired/lost/
Fyatya/palm frond woven tray/
Gberekagun/immunization/prevention/
Gbonga-pùtù/bomb/
Gbótsutsùn/hundred million/
Gbwa/gush/ also gbwagbwa/gushing/ gbwagbwanyi /adv. - gushingly/
Gbwasha/sock –footcloth/footwear/
Gidi /old name for Baro in Agaie LGA/
Giko/deteriorate/wear/
Giyefi/unclear/ uncertain/ambiguous/
Gokati /ahead/
Gungba/associate/partner/
Gwaka-aduwa/token paid for prayer- idiomatic expression/
Gwan/gulp/
Gwannyi/gulping/
Kádan/strive/commitment/zeal/ - also kikadan
Kagbóla/lakagbó/sponsor/take-care/
Kakudiya/female tattoo style - old use/
Kanban/group harvest of maize/
Kanko/group harvest of cutting sugar cane, grain stalks/
Kankú/group harvest system of picking groundnuts, bambara-nut with reward/
Kanku/group packing farm produce/
Kanpa/fold over/
Kanpin/pepper group harvest/
Kenci-wusa/a person whose both parents are not Nupe but can speak the language well
Kikpan/very thick/
Kondanyé/inquisitiveness/kin/mean/
Kodyadya/sluggish/ also slang for Shagari-style Suzuki motorcycle/
Kpalemo/ceremonial arrangement/
Kpéla/migration/exodus/relocation/
Kpebagi/window/
Kpékpan/conclude/finish/
Kpéla/migration/
Kpótsutsùn/one million/
Kpwakpwangbwaya/excessively cheap/bonanza price/discounted price/
Kuba/close-in /near/ also kukuba
Kulagi-Sòkó/natural black dot/spot on the face or skin/
Kuluwanshí/female hawker/
Kutukpa/witch dance/
Kwa/fetch a thick substance/
Kwá/disappoint/fail/
Kwamu/drink/take-in edible thick substance/
Kwannyi/gulp/
Kwankwannyi/gulping/
Kya/sink/
Kyakun/sink deep/
Kyatya-kyatya/tractor/
Laraba-gana/lit. Gana’s Wednesday – old myth in Nupeland- an evil night in the month of Safar (in Islamic calendar) where household utensils are covered to prevent/
Leshè/pro-long sickness/
Makaba/locust beans pods infusion for flooring/
Micinniwa/ewù/venom/
Nifigi/Enifigi/kpanu-nifigi/évó-nifigi/smallest plate in a set - soup plate/
Nudun/fertile land/
Nupe-wusa/a person whose one of his parents is not Nupe, but he can speak the language well
Nyagbanpin/envy / - also pinnyagban
Nyagbanshi/undoubted /firm/confidence/
Pakin/local child feeding method/
Robunkpe/conceal/regret/
Sanka/brand new/novel/fresh/
Shankala/harlot/
Shebelu/floor-beater/
Sokpá/ekpáso/assist/
Tinmitson/food tasting/mouth refresh/
Tokun/enough i.e food/appetite lost/
Tsuru/flow/gush/ also tsururu/gushing/
Tsuti/senseless/locked/
Tswanni/twist/interweave/ i.e. tswannifidozhi
Tukpadin/warning/caution/
Tyagunnya/weakly/feebly/
Wado/frighten/shock/
Walò/acrobatic swim/
Washe//frighten/restless/shock/
Wata/come-up/show/
Watu/show-up/reveal/
Wawan/regatta/
Wuti/dead-end/
Yabanci /Cultural and regatta display at Yaba in Abaji LGA/
Yenbi/rough/poor work/ unsatisfactory/
Yigba/shrink/subside/
Zheganga/slant/skew/
Zhí/confuse/restless/
Zunyetin/tinzunye/ pride/dignity/grace/
And lots more...

Here are some plants not found therein:
Biciyawogi/Okra spp/
Cingibàtà/grass spp/
Dancibogi/tree spp/
Edungulu/okra spp/
Éfúkó/weed spp/
Égóyikere/grass spp/
Egwatagi/creepy plant/
Élí/vine leaves/
Ènú/Cactus/
Etigbarabá/bitter melon/ (momordica charantia)
Eyaguzha/weed spp/
Eyayaba/herb/
Furagi/plant spp/
Giyebafin/shrub spp/
Goyi-gungbo /jimson weed/ (Datura stramonium) poisonous weed with purple flower/ also Finniga/(p.237)
guzha-dòkò /three or more seed shell groundnut/
guzha-yikere/ dry season/a season ground nut spp/
Jekuntankpolo/weed spp/
Kankó/ekankó/thorny weed that looks like spinach/
Kasamagi/weed spp/
Kinkeregi/small scorpion-like weed/
Kparumagi/plant spp/
Kukurafegi/Okra Spp/
Kunwawa/fungus spp/
Mayibókun/cinigbakogi/weed spp/
Pwatwa/plant spp/
Rukokunko/tree spp/
Shelu-kpatagi/ground bambara nuts spp/
Shengi/plant spp/
Songbáráci/tree spp/
Suru/tree spp/
Zanbu/herb spp/
Zugubagi/two seasoned groundnuts/
And lots more…

Here are nyakungizhi (animals) not found:
Bìbòrwà /Amphisbaenid snake/
Bishengikun/ Moorhen/(Gallinula Chloropus)
Bindigakó /Very large, black, evil smelling ant/
Dangigó /Puma/
Duwa /Dragon/
Egbágásá /Camel Spider/
Egbegi /Driver Ant/ Dorylus/
Ekan / Ekandangi/Cheetah/
Ekandunku /Tiger/
Fíndzúngi /small snake/
Gbanmadzurugi /Small red insect which comes with the first rains; a name for trade velvet/
Jasò /Palm snake/snake that lives in the top of palm trees/
Katengi /Sweet Ant/
Kyatyagigó /Zebra/
Kyatyagi–yiwó/Mare/
Mìnì / Mìnì-mìnì (Weaver Ant)
Nyakabìsagi (Zorilla)
Sùryagi /Bush pig/
Sòkóyawogi /also Làvonlàvo /Praying mantis/
And lots more…

5.      Nupe Communities not found in the dictionary  
i.                    Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
There are Nupe communities in about four wards/districts in Abaji Local Government Area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that were not included in this great book. Communities like Mamagi and Mawagi in Alu/Mamagi Ward; Pandagi, pandagi-Gbako, and Pandagi II in Agyana/Pandagi Ward; Kitikpa and Mawogi in Gawu Ward; Manderegi & Ebagi in Nuku/Sabongari Ward; Ebagi, Rimba Gana-Gana in Rimba/Ebagi ward/district; and Yaba, Yaba UNICEF,  Kpace/kpache, Adagba in Yaba Ward/district.
ii.                  Niger State
Gbako LGA: Buki, Cheninya, Dantigi, Godigo, Jankidi, Lankorogi, Sheshi-Gonna, etc.
Lavun LGA: Adoga-Man, Adoga-tacin, Adoga Swarwa, Ganzhefu, Ndakwama, Salegi, Zakari, etc.
Lapai LGA: Badeni, Ekun, Ewan, Gbacenku, Kokoci, Mumbo, Ndale (Guzhagi), etc.
iii.                Kwara State
Edu LGA: Esungi, Gunji-Saaci, Gbafun, Gakpan, Vuma, Mawogi, among others.
6.      Important Personalities left-out in this lexicon
The names of these people would have added colours to this important cultural encyclopedia:
i.                    Malam Umaru Agaie (Cekpa of Agaie), one of the founder of Jam’iyyar Mutanen Arewa that later became Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), he together with Dr. R.A.B Dikko, Malam Abubakar Imam Kagara, founded the organization in October 1948. He was the NPC founding Publicity Secretary in 1949.
ii.                  Muhammadu Bida (1914-1999), he was the late Iyan Sokoto, the former headmaster of the Sokoto Middle School (1945-1955).  
iii.                B.M. Dzukogi, activist, teacher, sport administrator and a writer who has written about nine titles and he is the pioneer Director General of Niger State Book Development Agency, Minna, and the current National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Authors. He was the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Niger State on Documentation and elevated to the position of the Executive Coordinator on Documentation in 2009. He is a holder of Literary Excellence Award by Niger State Government in 2010.
iv.                Yahaya Mohammad, born in Bida on the 16th June 1970; Yahaya was a mid-fielder in the 18 player- team that represented Nigeria and won the 1985 maiden edition of FIFA Under-16 World Championship hosted by Peoples’ Republic of China between July 31- August 11, 1985.
v.                  Yakubu Alfa (MON), the youngest Nupe man with a national honour. Born on 31st December  1990 in Bida town, Bida Local Government Area in Niger State. Started his professional football with the Niger Tornadoes FC, Niger State from 2005 to 2008 from the Junior team to the Senior team. He joined a Swedish Football Club- Helsingborg FC after the FIFA Under-17 World Cup Championship in South Korea in 2008
vi.                Alhaji Yabagi Danlami Bologi, former Chairman, Lokoja Local government area (August 2008 – 2011). (1990-12-31)
vii.              Sheikh Saidu Muhammadu Enagi (1952 – 2011) renowned Islamic Scholar who was born in Enagi in the present Edati Local Government area of Niger State. He attended elementary school in Ibadan, then Institute of Islamic and Arabic, Lokoja and lastly Bayero University, Kano. He was the Chief Imam of the Juma’at Mosque of the Federal Polytechnic Bida. He was also the patron of the Muslim Forum in Bida. The Sheikh conducted Ramadan Tafsir twice daily during every month of Ramadan in Nupe Language for years. He completed the translation of the entire Qur’an into Nupe and published it in 2002.
viii.            Sadisu Mohammed - a holder of the title of (Sarkinwasan Nupe) given to him by Etsu Nupe, Alhaji (Dr.) Yahaya Abubakar CFR for pioneering and contributing to the promotion and preservation of Nupe language through the production of films, musicals and lots more thereby growing the Nupe Entertainment Industry popularly known as the Nupewood. He has produced and directed over 100 films and Musicals in Nupe, he is a lecturer with IBBU Lapai and held from Mokwa in Mokwa LGA. He is also known as ‘Teacher Yekundunu’.
And lots more...

Conclusively, despites the above observations on the dictionary, and, being the first edition, there is room for amend in the subsequent editions. But the fact still remains that it is indeed a heritage to behold which I recommend for all to have irrespective of your language or tribe. It is a reference material for all most especially scholars and institutions which is already steering a healthy intellectual discourse. It is an addition to my bedside friends. Ambassador Solomon Adama Yisa, Etan Nupe, has made us all proud with this wonderful cultural information reservoir and I can only say GAWAMA SIR!

References:

Banfield, A.W. & Macintyre, J. L. (1915). A Grammar of the Nupe Language, Together with a Vocabulary. Suffolk: Richard Clay & Sons Limited.

Crowther, Right Rev.Samuel (1864). A Grammar and Vocabulary of the Nupe Language. London: Church Missionary House.

Ibn Battuta, Abu Abdullah Muhammad (1356). Ibn Battuta: Travels in Asia and Africa 1325- 1354.

Ibrahim, Isyaku Bala (2009). Eganmaganzhi Nupe (Nupe Proverbs), over a thousand (1000) proverbs). Minna: Gandzo Enterprises.

Ibrahim, Isyaku Bala (2012). Enyalò (Nupe Arithmetic). Minna: Gandzo Enterprises.


Ndagi, M. U. Sheikh Saeedu Muhammad Enagi (1952-2011). Weekly Trust newspaper. Abuja: 12th November 2011.

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