Amina (Queen of Zazzau) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Amina
Queen of Zazzau
statue of Amina in Lagos
Emira of Zazzau
Reign	1576–1610
Coronation	1576
Predecessor	Karamaamina
Born	1533 Zazzau
Died	1610 (age 77) Zazzau
House	Zazzau
Father	King Nikatau
Mother	Queen Bakwa Turunku

Amina (also known as Aminatu) was a famous queen who ruled the ancient city-state of Zazzau. This area is now part of northern Nigeria. She lived in the 1500s and died around 1610. Amina was known as a brave warrior and a strong leader. She is remembered for expanding her kingdom and building protective walls around cities.

Early Life and Training

Amina was born in the mid-1500s. Her father was King Nikatau, who was the 22nd ruler of Zazzau. Her mother was Queen Bakwa Turunku. Amina had a younger sister named Zaria. The modern city of Zaria is named after her sister.

Amina spent her childhood learning about politics and military strategies. Her grandfather, Sarkin Nohir, taught her many important things. He often took her to court and guided her.

When she was sixteen, Amina was named Magajiya. This title meant she was the heir to the throne. She was given many female attendants. Even at a young age, many important people wanted to marry her. They offered valuable gifts to win her hand.

After her parents passed away around 1566, Amina's brother, Karami, became king. Amina had already shown great skill as a warrior. She was a leading fighter in her brother's army. People still sing praise songs about her today. They call her "Amina daughter of Nikatau, a woman as capable as a man that was able to lead men to war."

Becoming Queen and Expanding Zazzau

Conquests of Amina

In 1576, after her brother Karami died, Amina became the queen of Zazzau. Zazzau was one of the original seven Hausa Kingdoms. These kingdoms were important states in the region. Before Amina became queen, Zazzau was already one of the largest Hausa states. It was also a major trading center.

Just three months after being crowned, Queen Amina began a long military campaign. For 34 years, she fought to expand Zazzau's territory. Her army was very strong. It had 20,000 foot soldiers and 1,000 cavalry troops. One of her first orders was for her people to "resharpen their weapons."

Amina's army conquered large areas of land. She pushed Zazzau's borders far into neighboring regions like Kwararafa and Nupe. Under her rule, Zazzau controlled more land than ever before.

To protect her newly conquered lands, Amina ordered the construction of strong earthen walls around her cities. These walls became common throughout the nation. Many of them still stand today and are known as ganuwar Amina (Amina's walls).

Death and Lasting Impact

The exact details of Queen Amina's death are not fully known. Some historical accounts suggest she died in a place called Attaagar. This location is near present-day Idah. Other historians say she died in Vom Jos. Her death marked the end of her long and successful reign.

Even after her death, Amina's reputation as a powerful warrior queen grew. Sultan Bello of Sokoto, a later ruler, wrote about her. He said that "Strange things have happened in the history of the seven Hausa States, and most strange of these is the extent of the possessions which God gave to Aminatu, daughter of the ruler of Zazzau." He noted that she waged war and made other cities pay tribute to her.

Beyond her military victories, Queen Amina also helped create important trade routes across Northern Africa. She is also credited with introducing the cultivation of kola nuts in the area. This helped the economy of her kingdom.

Modern Cultural Depictions

The Queen Amina Statue at the National Arts Theatre in Lagos State

Queen Amina is still celebrated today in many ways:

• The Queen Amina Statue stands at the National Arts Theatre in Lagos State. Many schools and institutions are also named after her.
• She is the main character in the historical fantasy novel Queen of Zazzau (2018) by J.S. Emuakpor.
• Amina inspired the character Malika in the graphic novel Malika: Warrior Queen (2017) by Roye Okupe.
• In the film Education, part of the Small Axe series by Steve McQueen, a young boy reads about Amina.
• She appears as a leader in the video game Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition.
• In the game Europa Universalis IV, Amina is a powerful leader and general for Zazzau.
• The 2021 film Amina tells the story of her rise to power. It was directed by Izu Ojukwu.

Many stories about Queen Amina are still told today. These stories show her as a fierce warrior who loved fighting. As a child, her grandmother noticed how she held a dagger like a true warrior. As an adult, she chose not to marry. She feared losing her power if she did. She helped Zazzau become a major trading hub and gain more land.

Partial family tree

See Also

In Spanish: Amina de Zaria para niños

• History of Africa
• Legends of Africa
• Nigeria

Images for kids

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  Queen Amina Stage