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| Sapele | |
  Sapele
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
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| State | Delta State |
For the African tree and its wood, see Sapele.
Sapele is a city in Delta State, Nigeria, on the Benin River just below the confluence of the Ethiope River and Jamieson River. It was originally a small village of the Urhobo or "Okpe" people.
By the mid-19th century, Sapele was established as a trading village, occasionally visited by Europeans. In 1891, the British government established a vice-consulate at Sapele. The population grew to 33,638 by 1952, including people from many Nigerian tribes.
Today, the city is one of Nigeria's major ports. Its industries include the processing of timber, rubber, and palm oil, as well as furniture and footwear manufacturing. As of 1995, its population was 135,800. And as of 2005/2006, the population of this advancing city is 142,652.
Notable residents
- David Defiagbon, Olympic boxing silver medalists
- Ola Rotimi, playwright
External links
- Encarta entry for Sapele
- Adogbeji Salubi, "The Origins of Sapele Township", Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria, Dec. 1960, pp. 115-135.
