Kwararafa was a multiethnic state and/or confederacy centered along the
Benue River valley in what is today eastern
Nigeria. It was located southwest of the
Bornu Empire and south of the
Hausa States, and much of what we know of the Kwararafa come from these sources. They rose to prominence before 1500, were in conflict with their more powerful neighbours in the 17th century, and reduced to a small tribute state by the 18th century. It is believed that Kwararafa was either a confederacy or caste led conquest state led by the modern
Jukun people, or perhaps a collective name given by their
Muslim foes for a number of pagan peoples to their south.