Heroes Of Nigeria’s History
Did you know the heroine of the TV show, ‘Xena: Warrior Princess’, was based upon Queen Amina of Zaria? If we do not tell our stories, outsiders will do so and claim credit for our exploits.
Queen Amina Of Zazzau – The Warrior Queen.
The seven original states of Hausaland: Katsina, Daura, Kano, Zazzau, Gobir, Rano, and Garun Gabas, cover an area of approximately 500 square miles and comprise the heart of Hausaland.
In the sixteenth century, Queen Bakwa Turunku built the capital of Zazzau at Zaria, named after her younger daughter. Eventually, the entire state of Zazzau was renamed Zaria, which is now a province in present-day Nigeria.
Amina was born around 1533 in Zaria. Her family’s wealth was derived from the trade of leather goods, cloth, kola, salt, horses and imported metals
However it was Queen Bakwa’s elder daughter, the legendary Amina (or Aminatu), who inherited her mother’s warlike nature.
Amina was 16 years old when her mother became Queen and she was given the traditional title of Magajiya. She honed her military skills and became famous for her bravery and military exploits. She is celebrated in song as “Amina, Yar Bakwa ta san rana” Or “Amina daughter of Nikatau, a woman as capable as a man.”
When Bakwa died in 1566, the crown of Zazzua passed to Amina’s younger brother, Karama. Their sister, Zaria, fled the region and little is known about her.
Although Bakwa’s reign was known for peace and prosperity, Amina chose to remain in the military, working with 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.
When her brother Karama died after a ten-year rule, Amina had matured into a fierce warrior who had earned the respect of the Zazzau military. She had their support when she assumed the reign of the kingdom.
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 its history.
The objective for initiating so many battles was to make neighbouring rulers her vassals 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.
Amina is credited as the architect who created the strong earthen walls around the city, which became the prototype for the fortifications used in all Hausa states. She built many of these fortifications, fortifying every conquered city and even military camps with earthen walls. Many towns and villages sprung up within the safety of the walls and they became known as ganuwar Amina or Amina’s walls. Some of those walls remain in existence to this day.
Sultan Muhammad Bello of Sokoto stated that, “She made war upon these countries and overcame them entirely so that the people of Katsina paid tribute to her and the men of Kano [and]… also made war on cities of Bauchi till her kingdom reached to the sea in the south and the west.”
Likewise, she led her armies as far as Nupe, and according to the Kano Chronicle, “The Sarkin Nupe sent her [the Princess] 40 eunuchs and 10,000 kola nuts. She was the first in Hausaland to own eunuchs and kola nuts.”
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.
Legend also says she died during a military campaign at Atagara (Atta Igala) near Bida in Nigeria.
Her exploits and legendary escapades made her the model for the television series Xena Warrior Princess. Today, her memory represents the spirit and strength of female leadership.
Over a 34 year period, her many conquests and subsequent annexation of the territories extended the borders of Zaria, so it grew in importance and became the center of the North-South Saharan trade and the East-West Sudan trade.
