Zaria City-State
Not much is known about the history of Zaria but one thing
is sure, Zaria grew into a wealthy and prosperous state. At its height, Zaria
became a leading commercial state within Hausaland because of her valuable
commercial link with wealthy states near the forest areas. Zaria was different from her neighbors even though she was a Habe state. Unlike Kano and
Kastina, Zaria was occasionally ruled by female rulers. Two of these female
rulers are believed to be among the greatest rulers ever to emerge in the
History of Hausaland. They proved the old adage right; what a man can do a
woman can also do and even better. World history reverberates with tales of
great female rulers who ruled with iron fist. Africa in time past had her own
fair share of female warriors who knew no bounds in politics. They fearlessly
took on their male counterparts defeating them both in battlefields and
administration.
The first Habe ruler of Zaria is believed to be Gunguma, grandson of Bayajidda. In 1505, Mohammed Abu visited Zaria. He introduced Islam to Zaria but unlike Kano and Kastina, Islam did not take strong roots in Zaria as it did in aforementioned states.
Zaria was once such state whose female leaders were so
fierce no man was powerful enough to stop their march. We must know that
Zaria’s rise to military power was due to the impact of two formidable female rulers.
Bakwa Turunku was a woman of strength and astute brain, she
had a commanding and charming personality. During her reign she repulsed the
invading Jukun army. In 1536 Bakwa moved the capital from Turunku area to what
is still roughly the present capital of Zaria. She moved the capital from Turunku
due to insufficient water needed for the growing commercial strength of Turunku.
Bakwa Turunku died in about 1566 and was
succeeded by a male formidable warrior Karama. History tells us that Karama took
princess Amina, the eldest daughter of Bakwa on his campaigns.
Around 1576 Queen Amina became the queen and sole leader of
zaria. Her ambitions kept her away from marriage even though she received lots
of marriage proposals including one from the Sarki of Kano. She was so immersed
in war that she cared less of becoming an ordinary royal wife. Queen Amina was
known to lead her army into battlefields herself. She wielded her sword beside
her troops killing as many enemies that dare cross her part and also acting as motivation
for her troops. We know she never lost a battle and for thirty-four years Queen
Amina continued to conquer lands after lands. After each battle was won, she
will erect walled garrisons to protect the conquered lands from invasions. To
this day some of the walls she built still stands in Zaria and serves as a
tourist destination.
The lands she conquered includes areas between Zaria and the
rivers Niger and Benue, this included Nupe and Kwararafa states. The expansion
of Zaria provided her with abundant slaves for labor and also the control of
trade route between Gonja. At the time of Queen Amina’s death Zaria was at the
zenith of her power. Zaria controlled large share of trade in Hausaland and was
a nation both enemies and friends feared to invade.
After the death of Queen Amina, Zaria lost her unchallenged
might. Her enemies saw Zaria a sheep without a good shepherd thus they knew it
was time to prey on the once strong and wealthy state. During the 17th
century, internal rift and weak leaders reduced Zaria so much that Jukun state
resumed their raid on Zaria. These frequent raids by Jukun troops reduced the territories
under the leadership of Zaria. Zaria also paid tribute to Sefawa and in
1734 Zaria eventually fell to the armies
of Bornu.
Though Zaria fell to the armies of Bornu, she remained a
prominent state in Hausa.
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