She had a younger sister named zaria for whom the modern city of zaria kaduna state was renamed by the british in the early twentieth century. I thought it was an intersting story because how can a queen give her daughter a slaves job for one week. Much of what is known of queen amina is based on information. Amina was born around 1533 in zaria, a province of todays nigeria. Queen amina of zazzau kingdom africas warrior princess.
Queens of africa book 1 judybee, littlepinkpebble on. Aminatu, commonly known as amina, was a great hausa warrior who later became the queen of zazzau. In the 16th century, ruthless warrior queen amina commanded an army of 20,000 men in what is now nigeria. Some scholars date queen aminas reign to about 1549, as heir apparent after the death of her mother. Her real biography has been somewhat obscured by subsequent legends and folk tales. The role of nigerian women britannica encyclopedia britannica. This queen of zazzua, a province of nigeria now known as zaria, was born around 1533 during the reign of sarkin king zazzau nohir. Here we share videos, podcasts, programs, events, conferences and resources to design the life you want and love. All kings are known as sarkins but amina s goal is to become the first female ruler of the land. One of the greatest nigerian women ever is queen amina of zaria. Amina became queen after her younger brother karama died. A brief history of queen amina the great woman warrior. Commonly known as the warrior queen, queen amina of zaria was the first woman to become the sarauniya queen in a maledominated society.
She expanded the territory of the hausa people of north africa to its largest borders in history. Brave, strong, warriorclass, she won many military exploits and will forever be the amina, yar bakwa rana ta san meaning a woman as capable as a man. In 1566, when bakwa died, aminas younger brother karama became king. She lived approximately 200 years prior to the establishment. Jan 06, 2015 amina, yar bakwa ta san rana amina, daughter of nikatau, a woman as capable as a man queen amina was a fierce warrior queen from the 16th century, a brilliant military strategist and the daughter of king nikatau, and queen bakwa turunku, who founded the kingdom of zaria. Princess amina of the hausa city state of zazzau was born around 1533. Hausa hero and warrior queen amina of zaria full history. Amina meaning truthful, honest, was born the eldest. Queen amina also known as queen aminatu, was the elder daughter of queen bakwa turunku, the founder of the zazzau kingdom in 1536. Queen amina is set in modern day nigeria and is a tale of military victory and female heroism. Katsina, daura, kano, zazzau, gobir, rano, and garun gabas cover an area of approximately 500 square miles and comprise the heart of hausaland. Queen amina of zazzau, wey dem dey call zaria now for kaduna, northwest nigeria, na di first sarauniya queen wey rule for time wen na only men fit do dis kain tin. Her familys wealth is said to come from the sale of leather goods, cloth, kola, salt, horses and imported metals.
Jan 02, 2017 aminatu, the queen of zaria, nigeria, in the 15th century. Amina, one of few warrior queens who ruled an african kingdom. This is not straightup historical fiction, but rather a blend of that and fantasy, with a. Their familys wealth was derived from the trade of leather goods, 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. Today, i would like to tell you about yet another great queen of africa, queen amina of zazzau. Tales have been told about her bravery in battle and her exploits on. It also represented their ability to merge their domestic lives with their public lives. Queen aminas achievement was the closest that any ruler had ever come in bringing the region now known as northern nigeria under a single authority and zaria aka birnin zaria was named after queen aminas younger sister zariya, and is where the royal palace of the zazzau kingdom reside even up till today. She used her military prowess to expand the territory of zazzau to the mouth of the niger in the south and including kano and katsina in the north. Probably founded in about 1536, later in the century it became the capital of the hausa state of zazzau. Amina, one of few warrior queens who ruled an african. Apr, 2018 queen amina of zazzau, wey dem dey call zaria now for kaduna, northwest nigeria, na di first sarauniya queen wey rule for time wen na only men fit do dis kain tin. Queen amina of zazzau is known for her prowess in territorial and economic expansion of her state.
Amina of zaria 15331610, commonly known as the warrior queen, expanded the territory of the hausa people of north africa to the largest borders in history. Pdf hausa handembroidery and local development in northern. Just as amina was a dedicated warrior before she became queen, i will also be just as dedicated to my lady warriors. Amina of zaria is a digital platform and exclusive online tribe to help women of colour to succeed in business, career and life. Merged with yola in 1935 by the fulani administration, jimeta regained. Amina of zaria biography, birth date, birth place and pictures. Three months after taking power, amina set off on her first military expedition.
One of the greatest warriors ever to emerge from africa in the sixteenth century was queen amina of zazzau. She is remembered in song as a woman as capable as a man, which is rather understating the matter, seeing as how amina was the greatest ruler and warrior in nigerian history. Both town and state were named for queen zaria late 16th century, younger sister and successor of zazzaus ruler queen amina. Amina was born in the middle of the sixteenth century ce to king nikatau, the 22nd ruler of zazzau, and queen bakwa turunku r. The most interesting part is that she used to go to war with her army and mary a king and killed him the night she married him just to take over his land. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. Although her mothers reign was known for peace and prosperity, amina also chose to learn military skills from the warriors. With the title came responsibility for a ward in the city where she convened daily councils with other officials. The queen mother, a powerful title among the edo and yoruba, could be. The legend of the brave queen of zazzau has just about lived to tell itself, for it has become a breathing story, with a life of its own. In 2001, the nigerian agricultural and rural development bank, ltd. This story follows the story of the historical queen of zazzau amina.
When she died,people from southern africa came to her tragedy and the line to her tomb. Contrary to the belief that leadership in africa has patriarchal roots, queen amina of zaria negates the belief. She is the third story in a new eightpart series, african women who changed the world. Oct 24, 2007 queen amina of zaria 16th century the seven original states of hausaland. All you need to know about the great woman warrior, queen. More than 400 years later, the legend of her persona became the model for a television series about a fictional warrior princess, called xena. Follow amina of zaria on youtube, facebook and instagram to design a life of success and passion. Queen amina of zaria was as iiiusmous as she was combalive. In 1576 when karama died, amina, now about 43, became queen of zazzau.
In 1566, when bakwa died, amina s younger brother karama became king. Hausa hero and warrior queen amina of zaria full history,life. Jul 14, 2016 amina of zaria commonly known as the warrior queen, expanded the territory of the hausa people of north africa to the largest borders in history. Amina was the elder daughter of queen bakwa turunku, the founder of the zauzau kingdom, now modernday zaria. The queen amina of zaria nigeria has been able to mark the course of history. Along with the title came the responsibility for a ward in the city and daily councils with other officials.
Queen amina of zaria was a fearless warrior and a great queen. Queen amina of zazzau was born around 1533 in the province. Queen zaria is a nz brand that offers sexy lingerie exclusively for women who have undergone surgery related to breast cancer. In 1549 she became the heir apparent magajiya to her mother. Like the great nzingha of angola, queen aminas leadership skills were discovered. While stories about her could be legends, scholars believe she was an actual person who ruled in. More than 400 years later, the legend of her became the model for a television series about a fictional warrior princess, called xena. Jun 27, 2017 queen amina is described as a legend and represents the spirit and strength of womanhood. For these zaria city women, handembroidery dinkin hannu is an. More than 400 years later, the legend of her persona became the model for a television series about a fictional warrior princess, called. Amina the warrior queen or zaria temple productions website. Amina of zaria commonly known as the warrior queen, expanded the territory of the hausa people of north africa to the largest borders in history. When bakwa died in 1566, the crown of zazzua passed to aminas younger brother, karama. Zazzua was one of a number of hausa citystates which dominated the transsaharan trade after the collapse of the songhai empire to the west.
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