The warrior queen of Zazzau

In 1533, the warrior queen of Zazzau (present-day Zaria, Kaduna state) was born. She was a skilled Hausa warrior who led a massive army of 20,000 foot soldiers and 1,000 cavalry troops in conquering many territories.
Queen Amina was a brave warrior, and her people nicknamed her “A woman like a man” because everything she did as queen exceeded what her male predecessors had done.

Amina was born in the middle of the sixteenth century to King Nikatau, the 22nd ruler of Zazzau, and Queen Bakwa Turunku. She had a younger sister named Zaria, after whom the modern city of Zaria was renamed by the British in the early twentieth century.

Amina was named heir apparent at the age of sixteen and was given forty female slaves. Amina had a number of suitors from an early age, including the Emir of Kano.
After her parents died in or around 1566, Amina’s brother ascended to the throne of Zazzau. Amina had distinguished herself as a leading warrior in her brothers’ cavalry and gained notoriety for her military skills by this point.

Amina ascended to the throne following the death of her brother Karami in 1576. She begins a 34-year campaign against her neighbour to expand Zazzau territory only three months after being crowned queen. Her army of 20,000 fort soldiers and 1,000 cavalry troops was well trained and fearsome.
In fact, one of her first announcements to her people was a request for them to resharpen their weapons. Queen Amina conquered vast swaths of land all the way to kwararafa and Nupe.

Zazzau ruled over more territory than ever before under Queen Amina. She established a trade route across Northern Africa.

Amina built earthen walls around her cities to protect her new lands. Until the British conquest of Zazzau in 1904, these walls were common throughout the country. However, many of them are still standing today as Amina’s wall.

Amina’s death is riddled with inconsistencies. Many authors cited her death in Vom Jos in their books, while other historians claimed she died in Antagara, present-day Idah.

Today, a statue of Queen Amina stands at the National Art Theatre in Lagos, and several educational institutions bear her name.