The Lapai Emirate, today in Nigeria, is a traditional state that lies near the Gurara River, a tributary to the Niger River, formerly originally inhabited where Gbari People, and presently came under the power of Nupe people, covering roughly the same area as the modern Lapai local government area.

In the 1790s the Nupe Kingdom was a rising power in the region and had taken Lapai from Oyo.

However, with the onslaught of the Fulani Jihad their lands, including Lapai, were conquered by the Sokoto Caliphate.

[1] The people of the region became subject to the Hausa kingdom of Zazzau.

[2] The emirate was founded in 1828 when Mallam Baba sent his Lieutenant Daudu Muza to subjugate the area.