Queen Amina

QUEEN AMINA OF ZARIA

“Amina is an Arabic name meaning truthful, trustworthy and honest”

     Amina was a Hausa Muslim warrior and queen of Zazzau (Zaria), in what is now known as North West Nigeria. She is believed by Historian to be a good and brave ruler. Her period of reign has caused controversy amongst scholar, some place her in the mid-15^th century, and others at mid to late 16^th century.

Account

It is said by Muhammad Bello that she was the one establish government among them. She is also mentioned I the Kano Chronicle, a well regarded and detailed history of the city of Kano, composed in the late 19^th century.  According to the chronicle, she was a contemporary of Muhammad Dauda, who ruled from 1421 -1438. Amina conquered as far as Nupe and Kwarafa and collected tribute from far and wide. She ruled for 34 years. (there is a local chronicle of Zaria itself, written in the 19^th century that goes up to 1902 and published in 1910 that gives the list of the rulers and the duration of their reigns but unfortunately Amina’s name was not mentioned, but oral tradition in the early 20^th century held her to be the daughter of Bakwa turunku, whose reign is dated by the chronicle from 1492 -1522).

Deeds

Amina was a fierce warrior and loved fighting, as a child her grandmother Marka, the favorite wife of her grandfather Sarkin Nohir, once aught her holding a dagger but this did not shock Marka, rather it was that Amina held it as a warrior would. As an adult she refused to get married because of the fear of losing power.

   She helped Zazzau (Zaria) become the center of trade and to gain more land. Her mother, Barwa died when Amina was 36 years old, leaving her to rule over Zazzau (Zaria). She was said to have taken a lover from among the conquered people after each battle, and to have killed or castrated him in the morning following their night together.

Heritage

•   ·        It is said that the introduction of kola nuts cultivation in Zazzau (Zaria) was attributed to her.
  ·        A statue of her at the national arts theater in Lagos state honors her

    Many multiple educational institutions bear her name. She is accredited for building the earthen walls that surround Hausa cities.

·        The warrior Amina Zarinde character who appears in Elf Saga Doomsday (2014) by Joseph Robert Lewis is partly inspired by the Hausa queen.