A recent pattern coming from Nollywood involves the warrior queens of Nigerian Comics. That might be because these characters connects to two of Nigeria’s historical heroes. Larger than life patriots like Guardian Prime are all well and good, but a little nostalgia goes just a little further. When Nigeria has two historical warrior queens, what better way to show your nation’s pride than spectacular tributes. Even if you have to cut out some things.
The Source of Nigerian Comics’ Warrior Queens
The first queen that people may be more familiar with is Queen Amina of Zazzau. That’s probably because even in 16th century, she was favored over her younger sister Zaria. Because who needs a city named after you when your grandpa teaches you military conquest and politics? This already made her a great calvary leader in her brother’s army. As soon as he died, Amina launched her reign with a 34 year campaign to expand Zazzau’s territory. When she died, Amina used this land to create trade routes throughout North Africa, especially with kola nut cultivation. Enough to box it in with walls still around today.
Now let’s go to the 13th century for Yoruba folk hero Moremi Ajasoro, the queen consort of Ile-Ife who freed her people from slavery. After praying to her local gods (the Orisha), she took the risk by offering herself up as a slave to discover a way to turn the tides. To her (dumb) luck, the king of the enemy nation takes her as a (trophy) wife for her tactical skills and beauty. This allows Moremi to find the advantage she needs and manages to get it back to Ile-Ife. With it the Yoruba people strike a major blow to be free of their tormentors. But as repayment to the river god, she had to reluctantly sacrifice her first-born son from her Ile-Ife husband as repayment. But Ile-Ife would grow in tribute to Moremi as her eternal children.
Two polar opposites that help make Nigeria what it is today. No wonder they strike a chord with their demographics.
The YouNeek Amina
YouNeek Studio’s epic fantasy Malika Warrior Queen takes a lot from the outline of Queen Amina’s life. Does that mean Amina was a wise leader who trains heroes with empathy? That she married the king of a neighboring nation? Learned kung-fu from that husband? Fought against her own sister while driving back the Ming Dynasty?
Uh… no.
The only thing “Ma-Lie-Kah” shares with Amina besides aesthetics is a sibling rivalry with their sisters. But even that’s just my guess. Plus there’s no mention of Amina ever having marrying, let alone China making contact with Zazzau. Unless you count the Songhai Empire and its conflicts with Zazzau.
And An Obscure Epoch’s
An indie publisher Epoch Studios uses Amina herself in the comic Barikisu. Unlike Malika, this series focuses on Amina’s descendent taking up her regalia against zealots. But not only did Queen Amina might never marry, she has no record of having kids. Especially with the rumor that she took a lover from each land she conquered before killing them. What it does having going for them is their take of Amina’s death that’s historically open to interpretation. Probably because creatives want to keep an arm’s distance from Amina’s controversies.
See Zazzau and the rest of the Hausa kingdom were among the nation’s involved in the slave trade. For that matter Zazzau was the main source for Arabian merchants. Amina herself had 40 female slaves when she was heir apparent to the kingdom.
The Comic Republic’s Moremi
Now for something less likely to get people up in arms. Unlike her namesake, Comic Republic’s Ireti Moremi was a demigod princess in line for Ile-Ife throne in the 19th century. Meanwhile her descendant who inherits Moremi’s powers in the 21st century, Ireti Bidemi actually shares more with Ajasoro. Nothing as dramatic as slavery threats, but Bidemi still makes sacrifices to protect her family.
Bidemi might have all of her ancestor’s equipment and godly blessings, but her family doesn’t. When a rival lineage is ready to wipe them out, Bidemi is driven by her ancestor’s gifts to take the fight to them. But it’s putting a strain on Bidemi’s relationships. She starts zoning out on her school friends and her enemies are setting Bidemi’s family up to turn against her. It looks like Bidemi might have to give up her civilian life and go into hiding. Probably with her superhero team, the Vanguards as a found family. But it’s okay if I’m wrong about that.
Do You Want More of Nigerian Comics’ Warrior Queens?
Do you have a better idea on these warrior queens of Nigerian comics? I believe they represent what Nigeria could be to the greater world rather than just where it came from. For example Malika might be inspired by a slave-owning warlord, but she embodies how the past can find what’s compatible with the present. Meanwhile Ireti shows that while living in a world of powerful people can get overwhelming, you still have a chance to change lives for the better.
What do you all think? Does a Nigerian Warrior Queen comic represent the country at its best? Leave your thoughts in the comments before this post’s birthday.
Thanks for coming to the end an as always remember to look between the panels.