The impressive equestrian statue of Queen Amina of Zazzau stands at the entrance to Nigeria’s National Arts Theatre, paying tribute to the legendary queen who ruled the kingdom of Zazzau (in what is now northern Nigeria) for 34 years. The prominent Nigerian sculptor Ben Ekanem sculpted it in 1975 for the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ‘77). Ekanem portrayed Queen Amina in mid-battle, brandishing a sword while her horse rears up on its hind legs. Queen Amina was born into royalty as the granddaughter of King Sarkin and the daughter of King Nikatau, the 22nd ruler of Zazzau. From a young age, Amina excelled in military skills and strategy, joining her brother’s cavalry and becoming his lead warrior by the time she was a teenager. When her brother passed away in 1576, Amina became Zazzau’s ruler. Just months into her reign, Queen Amina embarked on an impressive 34-year military campaign to expand Zazzau territory into neighboring lands. Commanding a fierce army of 20,000-foot soldiers and 1,000 cavalry, she conquered vast regions to create the largest-ever borders of Zazzau. Her expansion efforts allowed Zazzau to dominate trade routes connecting western Africa with Egypt and Mali during her rule. To protect the new outposts of her kingdom, Queen Amina ordered the construction of a notable series of earthen barrier walls, which came to be known as “Amina’s walls.” In creating secure trade passages and building a military might that bested her rivals, Queen Amina brought immense wealth and power to Zazzau. Queen Amina died around 1610 in unknown circumstances and location, leaving an enduring legacy as one of Africa’s great warrior queens. The original bronze statue deteriorated after years erected outdoors welcoming guests to the National Arts Theatre; in 2014, an unsigned artist re-created a replacement sculpture to restore Queen Amina’s imposing watch over the complex. While less dramatic than Ekanem’s epic 1977 portrayal, the new iteration ensures the legacy of one of history’s most formidable female leaders continues to be honored through public art. Read more...