Queen Amina of Zaria

The story has been passed on for years, children were taught in playgrounds and in school. Although the story I am sharing is real, different versions have been passed on over the years, making some aspects exaggerated and if at all nothing more but lies to please the listener's ears. But I know this story I know the real story it is nothing like the lies they told. How ? you ask, How am I sure my version is real? Well, it's because my dear readers who better would know the story of Queen Amina of Zaria better than Amina herself? So let's start at the beginning, shall we? Fifteen years ago during a war between the Hausa people of Zaria and the Jukun King Nikatau and Queen Bakwa gave birth to a baby girl which they named Amina.  The people of Zazzau said nothing happened the day Amina was born except that strangely it rained during the dry season. It was as though the heavens were weeping over the abomination that was born. For Amina was no normal girl, no she was not. The King and Queen would soon discover that Amina was in fact no normal girl. Not that she had two heads or anything outside the ordinary, no- in fact, she grew up to be a pretty young girl with dark skin and long hair. Right from an early age whenever her mother was addressing the maids in the royal kitchen, or talking with her friends Amina would waddle away to meet her father in the throne room who was oftentimes with his own father the King of Zazzau at that time. Her father would scold her and have the maids return her to her mother, Aisha her mother's most trusted maid will gently whisper in her ears to not go back to the throne room. Little Amina would only laugh still unable to understand whatever it was people were saying, she was just a year old at that time. While her father laughed over it at first, her mother was beginning to crease her brows at Amina's bold attempts at interrupting the king in the throne room. But it was when she was just seven that Amina almost gave her mother a heart attack well at least that's what her mother had told her after scolding her for the umpteenth time. " Oh my God, how many times have I told you not to enter the chamber when the ministers are with your grandfather?" her mother asked looking at Amina as though she had grown two horns. This was after a maid had successfully drawn Amina out of the meeting room by showing her a tray of sweet from afar Amina ran out of the hall eager to have some sweets. Amina on the other hand wrinkled her nose in response " Mama I am not doing anything there I am just sitting down besides I think I can make smarter strategies than that dumb minister of war" Amina added brows furrowed together. Her mother tried to cover her mouth with her hand upon hearing her mention the minister of war her eyes were wide open. Aisha  her mother's maid laughed at Amina while the three other maids had their eyes open in shock, in fact, their eyes would have bulged out of their socket if there were not properly placed, " oh Allah this girl will not kill me," she said quietly to herself before scolding Amina. " Kar ki sake hana ta kuma!" Aminas grandfather said standing at the doorway, Bakwa had not heard him enter the hall way and her eyes were wide open in shock. " oh forgive me your highness" Bakwa said bowing her head while Amina looked at her granfather smiling with the alewa in her hand, he smiled back.