Amina (also Aminatu ; d. 1610) was a Hausa warrior queen of the city-state Zazzau (present-day city of Zaria in Kaduna State ), in what is now in the north-west region of Nigeria . [1] She ruled in the mid-sixteenth century. Her real biography has been somewhat obscured by subsequent legends and folk tales. Amina Queen of Zazzau , by Erhabor Emokpae (b.1934-d.1984) Reign 1576-1610 Coronation 1576 Predecessor Karama Born 1533 Died 1610 Attaagar Father King Nikatau Mother Queen Bakwa Turunku Early life Edit Amina was born in the middle of the sixteenth century CE to King Nikatau, the 22nd ruler of Zazzau, and Queen Bakwa Turunku (r. 1536–c. 1566). [2] She had a younger sister named Zaria for whom the modern city of Zaria (Kaduna State) was renamed by the British in the early twentieth century. [3] [2] According to oral legends collected by anthropologist David E. Jones, Amina grew up in her grandfather's court and was favored by him. He carried her arou