Queen amina zaria biography of martin luther
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Upon the death of her brother after a 10 year rule, Amina had matured into a fierce warrior and earned the respect of the Zazzau military, so she was able to assume the reign of the kingdom.[3]
The context of Queen Amina’s leadership was pre-colonial Nigeria, where men did not feel threatened when women were in powerful positions, as it was usually understood that they deserved to be there because of age, kinship or merit, not gender.
This access to trade enriched Zazzau and solidified its power in the region.
Amina’s campaigns stretched from the Niger River in the west to parts of modern-day Cameroon. The tribute system she established became a significant source of wealth for Zazzau.
Amina also promoted agriculture, particularly the cultivation of crops like cotton, and the growth of the region’s trade in goods such as kola nuts and textiles, further boosting the economic power of her kingdom.
Cultural impact and legacy
Queen Amina’s life and reign have been passed down through centuries of oral tradition, making it difficult to separate historical facts from legend.
She had a younger sister named Zaria, after whom the British nicknamed the current city of Zaria (Kaduna State) in the early 20th century.
History has it that Amina grew up in her grandfather’s court and was his favourite. As a result, the memory of Queen Amina has assumed legendary proportions in her native Hausaland and beyond.[1] The modern state of Nigeria has immortalized Amina by erecting a statue of her, spear in hand, on a horse, in the centre of Lagos.
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.
She is often compared to other influential women leaders from around the world, such as Cleopatra of Egypt and Joan of Arc in France.
She is celebrated as a hero in Nigeria, particularly among the Hausa people. Her legend has inspired books and films. Much of what is known of Queen Amina is based on information related in the Kano Chronicles.
Although her father’s reign was characterised by peace and prosperity, Amina nonetheless chose to spend her time honing her military skills with the warriors of the Zazzau cavalry. She expanded the territory of the Hausa people of north Africa to its largest borders in history. Statues and schools named after her honour her memory, and her life continues to be a symbol of strength and courage for women across Africa.
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She increased the wealth and power of her country with gold, slaves, and new crops.Because her people were talented metal workers, Amina introduced metal armour, including iron helmets and chain mail, to her army.’[9]
Amina is also credited as the architect of the strong earthen walls around the city, which became the prototype for the fortifications used in all Hausa states.
In the past, women played a significant role in the leadership and liberation of some places in Nigeria.
Thus, Amina received forty female slaves when she turned sixteen and was granted the title of Magajiya (heir apparent) (kuyanga). Amina was courted by a lot of men since she was a young girl.
However, the Makama made “a daily offer of ten slaves,” while the Sarkin Kano offered “fifty male and fifty female slaves and fifty bags of white and blue cloth” in an effort to win her favour.
Later, Amina’s brother succeeded to the throne of Zazzau following the passing of her parents in or about 1566.
For the rest of her [34 year] reign, she continued to fight and expand her kingdom to [its] greatest in history.’[7] Heading up an army of 20,000 men, she tried to annex several surrounding cities up to Nupe, and ruled Kano and Katsina at the cost of 34 years of almost uninterrupted warfare.[8] The objectives of her conquests were twofold: extension of Zazzau beyond its primary borders and reduction of conquered cities to vassal status.
The expansion of Amina’s kingdom made it the trading centre for all of southern Hausaland, spanning the traditional east-to-west trans-Saharan axis and guaranteeing Zaria’s prosperity.
Her mother, Queen Bakwa Turunku, was a ruler in her own right and played a critical role in shaping Amina’s early life. ‘She boosted her kingdom’s wealth and power with gold, slaves and new crops. For example, while some historians claim she passed away in Atagara, the modern-day Idah, many authors have stated in their writings that she died in Vom Jos.”
Queen Amina of Zaria
Commonly known as the warrior queen, Queen Amina of Zaria was the first woman to become the Sarauniya (queen) in a male-dominated society.
She ruled over the Hausa city-state of Zazzau (modern-day Zaria) in present-day northern Nigeria. Women and Language, 26(1), 18-25.
[5]http://www.answers.com/topic/amina-of-zaria#ixzz1iGv336ar
[6]Hodgkin, T. (1960).Nigerian perspectives: An historical anthology. Today, her memory represents the spirit and strength of womanhood.[11]
Queen Amina undoubtedly managed to forge and imprint a legacy that contradicts all stereotypes of women’s leadership in patriarchal African societies, where the inequality that women face affects virtually all aspects of society.[12] There is significant evidence that women were allowed to make ample contributions to the social, political and economic structure of their societies in pre-colonial Nigeria, if not with the same clout as men.
Women could even oust men who were not performing their duties effectively. Instead, she often installed vassal rulers and demanded tributes from the regions she conquered, allowing her to maintain dominance without overstretching her administration. After conquering territories, she did not aim to establish direct control over all of them.