Amina Wagheh

A West African warrior queen who led resistance against French colonial forces in the early 20th century

Amina Wagheh (c.1890-1960) was a Hausa warrior queen from the ancient city-state of Zaria in what is now Nigeria. As the daughter of the Sarkin (king) of Zaria, she began military training at age 16 and became commander of her father's cavalry by 25. Her military campaigns against French colonial forces in the early 1900s delayed European domination in the region for decades. She famously employed guerrilla tactics and fortified the city's walls using innovative engineering techniques still visible today. Though often overshadowed by male leaders, her leadership inspired generations of African resistance movements. Modern historians recognize her as a key figure in the development of modern Nigerian national identity. Her story is preserved in the British Museum archives and the Smithsonian National Museum of African History.