Nana Asma'u

A scholar and poet from the Sokoto Caliphate who pioneered women's education through a network of female educators called the <em>Yan Taru</em>.

Nana Asma'u (1793–1864) was a Fulani scholar, poet, and women's rights advocate in what is now northern Nigeria. As the daughter of Usman dan Fodio, the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate, she received a rigorous education in theology, Arabic, and classical literature—a privilege reserved for elite men at the time.

She developed the Yan Taru movement, a network of female scholars who traveled across the Caliphate to educate women in literacy, Islamic jurisprudence, and governance. This initiative ensured that women could participate in public life and contribute to societal development. Her poetry, written in the Fulfulde language, addressed themes of leadership, faith, and social cohesion.

Nana Asma'u's influence extended beyond education. She advised her brother, the Caliph Muhammed Bello, on governance and became a mediator in political disputes. Her writings, such as 《The Letter of the Poetess》 (1830s), remain foundational texts in West African intellectual history.

Today, her legacy is honored through institutions like the Nana Asma'u University in Nigeria. Scholars like Margaret Strobel have documented her contributions in works like 《Scholar, Scribe, and Sultan》. The British Museum holds manuscripts of her poetry.