There are various arguments surrounding the existence or otherwise of the legendary city of Zazzua (present-day Zaria), the patriarchal African society of the 16th century, located in present-day Nigeria.
Although the historical sources are conflicting, the walls and ruins that exist in the area and date from the 16th century, testify that there really was a Kingdom in the area, beyond the mythological dimensions it may have taken.
Mythological implications also exist for the life of Amina, Queen of Zazzua, who is said to have been born in 1533, being the child of King Nikatau and Queen Bakwa Turunku, members of the Hausa tribe still surviving in Zaria and northern Nigeria.
The queen reportedly also had a brother, Karama, and a sister, Zaria, after whom the British christened the city when they captured it, to "honor" her memory.
Amina was named heir to the throne at the age of 16 by her mother, and according to oral traditions preserved in the country, she lived with 40 female slaves. Its history is based on these oral traditions. Her royal "dowry" made her desirable to many suitors of her time. All of them offered her gifts, slaves, clothes, but she rejected all proposals.
During Karama's reign (1566-1576), she co-ruled with him and led four military campaigns, where she fought alongside the men of the time. Thus, she was appointed commander-in-chief, leader of the army of her kingdom, while after the death of her brother in 1576, she officially assumed the throne at the age of 43.
During her rule, she is said to have been warlike, increasing her army and lording it over neighboring lands, multiplying the lands under her control. These military conquests led to great wealth for the kingdom as they opened up more trade routes, while the conquered territories had to pay heavy tribute to the conqueror.
She ruled for 34 years and during her reign she renounced the idea of marriage. According to traditions, in order to satisfy her amorous desires, she chose lovers from the regions through which she passed, made love to them and the next morning ordered their beheading. She usually chose a man from her current enemy.
Amina is believed to have built walls around her conquests, which became known as "Amina's walls". Most of the walls were destroyed after 1904, when the British conquered the lands of Zazzau.
Amina died in 1610 in battle, after ruling Zazzua for 34 years. Her name today has become associated with women's emancipation in the African tradition. In Lagos, at the National Arts Theatre, there is a statue dedicated to her, and several schools are named after her. In pop culture, Amina's story is featured in the fifth episode of Steve McQueen's Small Ax, where 12-year-old Kingsley Smith proudly reads her exploits to his family.
As noted by British historian Michael Crowder, after Amina's death the Hausa women of the region lost the influence and power they had in their society. In fact, during Amina's rule, the women of her tribe enjoyed significant autonomy, while they occupied many administrative positions, in a basically patriarchal region.
It is worth noting that Islam was established in the region from 1808 onwards, while in recent years the activity of Boko Haram has been intense in the region.
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