Nigerian Women’s History in Nollywood: Focus on Amina (Queen Amina of Zazzau)

Abstract

Most Nigerian Movies showcased women as sex objects, materialistic, and victims of patriarchal societies.  This study examined Nigerian women’s history in the Nollywood movie Amina directed by Izu Ojukwu in 2020 portrayed the life of Queen Amina, a 16^th-century warrior queen of Zazzau.  The study adopted a qualitative research method based on a historical approach. It made use of primary and secondary sources. The primary source comprised oral interviews. The secondary sources included journals, articles, books, and theses. The study revealed that Northern Nigerian women particularly Zauzzau during the period played significant roles, beyond traditional societal expectations of them as homemakers and child bearers. Queen Amina of Zazzau Emirate was not a victim as portrayed in Amina despite being in a patriarchal society.  Amina rose to become a symbol of women's leadership and warrior status in pre-colonial Hausa land.