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Africa Last Updated: May 27, 2021 - 3:59:46 PM


The Warrior Queen Who Beheaded Her Lovers After a One Night Stand
By Belinda Mallasasime, Medium, 11/5/21
May 24, 2021 - 11:14:34 AM

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The first female ruler in a patriarchal African land in the 16th century

A photo from a Nigerian movie based on the life of Queen Amina (Photo Source: naijalifemagazine.com)

 

There have been several arguments about the existence of the first female leader of Zazzua (Present-day Zaria) — a predominantly patriarchal society during the 16th century. Though there have been several proofs of her existence, like the structures of the ruins of what used to be her royal court and military training ground right in Zaria, as well as the walls surrounding the cities she conquered, many still believe her to be a myth.

The Life of Queen Amina of Zazzua.

Amina was born in 1533 to king Nikatau and queen Bakwa Turunku — the rulers of Zazzua — a Hausa tribe of what is now known as present-day Zaria in Kaduna State, within the northern part of Nigeria. Amina was said to have had a brother named Karama and a sister name Zaria — after whom the British colonial masters would later rename Zazzua by the 20th century.

As a little girl, Amina began developing unusual interests in political and military affairs. Something unique to just men at the time. She picked up the interest from spending so much time with her grandfather, a king before her father. By the time she turned 16, she was named “Heir Apparent” by her mother and was presented with 40 female slaves. Being young beautiful and from a prominent royal family, Amina was the desire of most men in the land. She started getting suitors at an early age.

The suitors would compete in winning her hand in marriage by presenting her with numerous gifts like; servants, clothes, and several jewelry pieces, but Amina turned down all of their proposals.

 

An artwork of Queen Amina (Photo source: dw.com)

 

The Reign of Queen Amina

During her brother’s reign as king, he organized four major military campaigns all of which Amina bravely fought in amongst the male warriors. Because of her great strength and bravery, Amina was appointed the leader of the warriors. After the death of her brother, King Karama, she was next in line for the throne. In 1576, she became the new ruler of Zazzua.

As queen, Amina was fierce and powerful. By the third month of her reign, she had already acquired 20,000-foot soldiers and 1000 calvary troops — with whom she led numerous great wars against neighboring lands — which she conquered and built fortified walls around.

Throughout her 34 years as queen, Amina was opposed to the idea of marriage as she showed no interest in being seen as a wife because that would mean being subjected to a man. Rather, to satisfy her sexual desires, it was said that she’d take up lovers in every town she passed through, and after spending the night with them, they’d be secretly beheaded in the following morning to prevent them from boasting about being intimate with the great Queen Amina.

She died in battle in 1610. After a successful 34 years reign as queen of Zazzua, Queen Amina is still remembered as one of the most remarkable and most powerful female rulers in African history.


Source:Ocnus.net 2021

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