Full Name: Queen Amina of Zazzau
State of Origin: Zazzau (Zaria)
Ethnicity: Hausa
Date of Birth: Around 1533
Died: 1633 Near Bida in Nigeria
Nationality: Nigerian
Marriage Status: Single.
Spouse(s): None
Parents: Queen Bakwa Turunku
Residence: Birnin Zaria Nigeria
Language: Hausa and English
Religion: Islam
Alma mater: -
Occupation: African Warrior Queen
Position(S): The founder of the Zazzau Kingdom
INTRODUCTION
Amina was born around 1533 in Zaria, Know then as Zazzau a province of today’s Nigeria is now north west Nigeria. She was the daughter of Bakwa of Turunku. Their family's wealth was derived from the trade of leather goods, cloth, kola, salt, horses and imported metals.
Queen Amina of Zazzau was a Hausa Muslim Warrior known as Queen of Zazzau (now Zaria) and a west african warrior queen.
She was the elder daughter of Queen Bakwa Turunku, the founder of the Zazzau Kingdom in 1536. Some scholars date Queen Amina's reign to about 1549, as heir apparent after the death of her mother. This medieval African kingdom was located in the region now known as the Kaduna State in the north-central region of Nigeria, capital at the modern city of Zaria. Zaria (aka Birnin Zaria) was named after Queen Amina's younger sister Zariya, and is where the Royal Palace of Zaria resided.
Amina chose to hone her military skills from the warriors of the Zazzau military. As a result, she emerged as leader of the Zazzua cavalry. Many accolades, great wealth, and increased power resulted from her numerous military achievements.
According to the history she was a contemporary of Muhammad Dauda, who ruled from 1421–38, and Amina conquered as far as Nupe and Kwarafa, collected tribute from far and wide and ruled for 34 years.A number of scholars accept this information and date her reign to the early to mid-15th century.
By 1805, the region was captured by the Fulani during the Fulani jihad. By 1901, Frederick Lugard led British forces and captured Zaria as a protectorate state. This is the same year that it is reported that Zaria sought British protection against slave raids from the Kontagora region. After a Zaria magaji (representative) murdered the British Captain Moloney in 1902 at Keffi, the British stripped the emirate of most of its vassal states. Since Nigeria's independence from the British in 1960, Zaria is one of its largest traditional emirates.
Legend also decrees she died during a military campaign at Atagara near Bida in Nigeria. Her exploits earned her the moniker Amina, daughter of Nikatau, a woman as capable as a man. Her legendary escapades made her the model for the television series Xena Warrior Princess. Today, her memory represents the spirit and strength of womanhood.
Amina led her first military charge a few months after assuming power. For the rest of her 34 year reign, she continued to fight and expand her kingdom to the greatest in history. The objective for initiating so many battles was to make neighbouring rulers her vassal and permit her traders safe passage. In this way, she boosted her kingdom’s wealth and power with gold, slaves, and new crops. Because her people were talented metal workers, Amina introduced metal armor, including iron helmets and chain mail, to her army.
EDUCATION
Queen Amina is a legend among the Hausa people for her military exploits. She controlled the trade routes in the region, erecting a network of commerce within the great earthen walls that surrounded Hausa cities within her dominion. According to the Kano Chronicle, she conquered as far as Nupe and Kwarafa, ruling for 34 years.
CAREER
She emerged as leader of the Zazzua cavalry.
To her credit, she fortified each of her military camps with an earthen wall. Later, towns and villages sprung up within these protective barriers. The walls became known as Amina’s Walls and many of them remain in existence to this day.
LOVE, MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN
According to legend, Amina refused to marry and never bore children. Instead, she took a temporary husband from the legions of vanquished foes after every battle. After spending one night together, she would condemn him death in the morning in order to prevent him from ever speaking about his sexual encounter with the queen.
THE DAYS OF YOUTH:
She fought and won.
INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT QUEEN AMINA
The warriors of the Zazzau military and she conquered as far as Nupe and Kwarafa.
RECOGNITIONS
The founder of the Zazzau Kingdom in 1536.
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