QUEEN AMINA of ZARIA
Queen Amina was born 1533 in Zazzair, known as Zaria in northern Nigeria.
She learned to be Queen from the day she was born.
She was the first Queen of that era and ruled for over 34 years.
Her family was wealthy and traded in metals, kola nuts, cloth, salt and horses.
When her father died, her brother ruled and Amina trained hard to be a mighty warrior.
She earned the respect of the men in the military.
After her brother’s death, Amina became the first Queen of her people at the age of 26.
She led her first military campaigns a few months after becoming Queen.
She won every battle with 20,000 men under her command, and her people built a great wall around the kingdom.
Today in Nigeria, she is known as “Amina, as capable as a man.”
She represents the strength and spirit of womanhood.
SHAMBA BOLONGONGO AFRICAN KING OF PEACE – 1600 – 1620
At the age of 19 years old, SHAMBA was at the right age to take the throne.
He requested of the king and queen if he could travel before he took the throne.
The king and queen concerned about beast and other tribal nations stated, ” No.”
He continued to request to be able to travel and finally the king and queen consented.
He took a large entourage or group of people with him aids, servants and warriors. The tour took 2 years.
He absorbed all that he could to make himself knowledgeable to rule.
When he returned, his father had died and they made him king.
From the knowledge of his tour, he was able to teach his people how to make their clothes last longer, and how to plant cassava, which looks like a white potato, and was not eaten by locust.
He encouraged the art of embroidery and encourage arts and crafts.
He taught his people the game of mancala to help them not to gamble.
He abolished war, which he greatly hated, he restricted his people to carry a wooden knife with the moon did not shine, so no one would be accidentally hurt.
He named his people Bushongo, which was a named respected among neighboring tribes in pursuit of commerce.
If they were attacked, they would destroy property but not people.
He had a large organized government, which 14 women held official positions.
This nation in the Congo was on it’s way to global greatness if not for the invasion of Europeans.
He had a complex and extremely democratic form of government featuring a system of checks and balances.
The government was divided into sections such as military, administrative and judicial branches and all of the people were represented. There was even a concern for fathers with twins.
This democratic government existed 156 years before the United States. A great Empire.
OSEI TUTU – 1660 – 1717
Osei Tutu was the 1st king of the Ashanti people, a great kingdoms high is now known as Ghana.
He was able to get other chiefs to join his kingdom and he gave great leadership.
It is sad, that OSEI Tutu became King because a great golden stool came down from heaven and rested a upon his knee.
The golden stool became a sacred symbol of the nation’s soul, which was appropriate because gold was the source of Ashanti wealth.
Under OSEI TUTU, there was a yam festival which was celebrated by everyone.
A common enemy was defeated, and the Ashanti kingdom gained access to the coastal trade.
The kingdom tripled in size and had a mighty military.
The kingdom existed for 200 years.
Nandi – Queen of Zululand – 1778 – 1826 – Mother of Shaka – taught Shaka how to be a king.
Shaka- King of the Zulus -1818 – 1828 fought to keep the English from over taking kingdom. Designed Shield and spear that helped his warriors to be more successful in battles.
Idris Alooma- Sultan – A devoted Moslem. When the Sultan went to Mecca he brought back Turkish firearms. He commanded an army with Calvary with musketeers and armor.
Study well.
Gwen Ebron, M.Ed
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