Aminatou, who would later become the 24th heba of Zazzaou (name given to the country's rulers) was only a 16-year-old teenager when her father, Magajiya Bakwa Turunku, became the 22nd king of Zazzaou. Her mother becomes queen and decides to rename the city “Zaria”, from the first name of Aminatou's sister for whom she has more preference. During the reign of his father, the country will experience a period of peace and prosperity, even if the latter will organize some military campaigns with a commercial perspective. The occupations of the young woman who is Aminatu at this time are nothing like those of other young women of her age. Indeed, she spends more time training with the soldiers of her father's army than worrying about her appearance or dreaming of Prince Charming. And it's not because she's the king's daughter, or because she has to, but because Aminatu has a passion: the art of war.
Aminatou (or Amina) lived in the 16th century in the Hausa city-states (in the northeast of present-day Nigeria) which included the states of Biram, Daoura, Katsina, Zazzaou (or Zaria), Kano, Rano, and Gobir, and who dominated the trade of sub-Saharan black Africa. She was of Muslim faith and ruled Zaria (or Zazzaou) for over 34 years. Historians cannot agree on the details of her story, and some dispute that she was queen. However, the Chronicles of Kano, a collection of anonymous Hausa writings, tells us about the adventures of this famous warrior queen.
On the death of his father, in 1566, and according to Hausa custom, his younger brother Karama became king of Zazzaou. However, Karama only reigned for ten years when a sudden death struck him, leaving the throne to Aminatu who took his place without any hesitation. Neither the people nor the soldiers of Zazzau's army are afraid of his ascension to the throne, because Aminatou has already revealed extraordinary gifts in military art. In addition, she is endowed with an incomparable physical strength which earned her the nickname of “woman as capable as a man”. In fact, Aminatou had already led the cavalry of his people on several occasions during his brother's reign.
As soon as she was enthroned, she launched her first military expedition which was to last three months. It organizes multiple military campaigns because its goal is to enlarge the territory of Zazzaou by seizing the cities located beyond the borders. Columnist PJM McEwan quotes these passages from the Chronicles of Kano:
Are you interested in this article and want to read it in full?
Access all Premium content. Over 2000 articles and ebooks
