QUEEN AMINA OF ZARIA
Q
Eturuvie Erebor
ueen Amina was a Hausa warrior
queen of Zazzau and lived between
1533 and 1610. It is believed that
she reigned for about three decades
in Zazzau, a city-state of Hausaland,
now known as Zaria. She is credited
with the
expansion of the territory of
the Hausa people of northern
Africa. Also known as Amina
Sarauniya Zazzau, she was
the daughter of King Nikatau,
who was the 22nd ruler of
Zazzau, and Queen Bakwa
Turunku. She was the eldest
of three children and had a
younger sister named Zaria
and a brother named Karama.
Amina is said to have been a
favourite of her grandfather
who taught her about issues
about war and politics.
When she turned sixteen, she
was given the title Magajiya,
which means heir apparent.
But following the death of
her parents, her brother was
made the king of Zazzau, and
she became a leading warrior
in his army. She was referred
to and is still referred to as,
“Amina, daughter of Nikatau, a
woman as capable as a man.”
Her brother Karama died in
1576, and upon his death,
the throne passed to Amina,
and she became the queen of
Zazzau. Zazzau at this time
was great and prosperous and
the primary source of slaves
that were sold at the slave
markets of Kano and Katsina by Arab merchants.
Three months after she became queen, Amina
went to battle, it was a long war against her
neighbours that lasted 34-years, and it was for
the primary purpose of expanding the territory
of Zazzau. She took over vast areas of land going
as far as present-day Kwara and Nupe. Under her
DOZ Magazine | July 2019
reign, Zazzau had authority over more territory
than ever before, and she protected her newly
acquired lands by building earthen walls around
them. These walls were known as ganuwar Amina
or Amina’s walls. She took lands belonging to
men. She was a woman revered by men, and they
brought her tribute. She died in Attaagar, and
many speculate that she died in battle although the
exact circumstances of her death remain unknown.
Following her death, Amina has basked in a lasting
eminence and is viewed by many as a female
legend warrior.
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