Queen – Amina – Queen of Zaria

This queen of Zazzua, a province of Nigeria now known as Zaria, was born around 1533 during the reign of Sarkin (king) Zazzau Nohir. She was probably his granddaughter. Zazzua was one of a number of Hausa city-states which dominated the trans-Saharan trade after the collapse of the Songhai empire to the west. Zaria’s wealth was due to the trade of leather, cloth, kola, salt, horses and imported metals.

At sixteen, Amina became the heir apparent (Magajiya) to her mother, Bakwa of Turunku, the ruling queen of Zazzua. Along with the title came the responsibility for a ward in the city and daily councils with other officials. Although her mother’s reign was known for peace and prosperity, Amina also chose to learn military skills from the warriors. Queen Bakwa died around 1566, and the reign of Zazzua passed to her brother Karama. During this time, Amina emerged as the leading warrior of the Zazzua cavalry. Her military achievements brought her great wealth and power. Ten years later, Karama died, and Amina became queen of Zazzua.

She set off on her first military expedition three months after coming to power and continued fighting until her death. In her thirty-four-year reign, she expanded the domain of Zazzua to its largest size ever. Her main focus, however, was not on the annexation of neighbouring lands, but on forcing local rulers to accept vassal status and permit Hausa traders safe passage. She is credited with popularising the earthen city wall fortifications, which became characteristic of Hausa city-states since then. She ordered the building of a defensive wall around each military camp that she established. Later, towns grew within these protective walls, many of which are still in existence. They’re known as “ganuwar Amina”, or Amina’s walls. She is mostly remembered as “Amina, Yar Bakwa ta san rana,” meaning “Amina, daughter of Nikatau, a woman as capable as a man.

Related Links

• Amina – African Feminist Forum