Kumbwada is a rural kingdom in the northern part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a population of about 33,000 individuals. [1]
Kumbwada is known for having the only known system for state rule by women only. Kumbwada is currently being ruled by Queen Hajiya Haidzatu Ahmed and her court. An ancient curse keeps males off the throne, according to locals. The Queen's royal title is inherited on the female side of the family, and the current Queen's daughter, Idris, is the queen's successor. [1]
In 1958 when Prince Amadu Kumbwada stated he wished to succeed to the throne of Kumbwada after his mother the queen, he became immediately ill and was rushed out of the kingdom; he never returned. [1] Kumbwada has been ruled by women for at least six successive generations since its conquest by Princess Magajiya Maimuna of Zaria; the last queen, Queen Hajiya's grandmother, died aged 113. [2]
A monarch is a head of state for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest authority and power in the state, or others may wield that power on behalf of the monarch. Usually a monarch either personally inherits the lawful right to exercise the state's sovereign rights or is selected by an established process from a family or cohort eligible to provide the nation's monarch. Alternatively, an individual may proclaim oneself monarch, which may be backed and legitimated through acclamation, right of conquest or a combination of means.
A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, is head of state for life or until abdication. The political legitimacy and authority of the monarch may vary from restricted and largely symbolic, to fully autocratic, and can span across executive, legislative, and judicial domains.
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn legitimate child to inherit the parent's entire or main estate in preference to shared inheritance among all or some children, any illegitimate child or any collateral relative. In most contexts, it means the inheritance of the firstborn son ; it can also mean by the firstborn daughter, or firstborn child.
A queen regnant is a female monarch, equivalent in rank, title and position to a king. She reigns suo jure over a realm known as a kingdom; as opposed to a queen consort, who is married to a reigning king; or a queen regent, who is the guardian of a child monarch and rules pro tempore in the child's stead or instead of her husband who is absent from the realm, be it de jure in sharing power or de facto in ruling alone. A queen regnant is sometimes called a woman king. A princess regnant is a female monarch who reigns suo jure over a principality; an empress regnant is a female monarch who reigns suo jure over an empire.
Amina was a Hausa historical figure in the city-state Zazzau, in what is now in the north-west region of Nigeria. She might have ruled in the mid-sixteenth century. A controversial figure whose existence has been questioned by some historians, her real biography has been somewhat obscured by subsequent legends and folk tales.
Bukar Abba Ibrahim was a Nigerian politician who served as the senator representing the Yobe East senatorial district from 2007 to 2019. He previously served twice as the governor of Yobe State from 1992 to 1993 and from 1999 to 2007.
Urraca of Castile was a daughter of Alfonso VIII of Castile and Eleanor of England. Her maternal grandparents were Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine.
An order, line or right of succession is the line of individuals necessitated to hold a high office when it becomes vacated, such as head of state or an honour such as a title of nobility. This sequence may be regulated through descent or by statute.
Idia was the mother of Esigie, who reigned as Oba (king) of the Edo people from 1504 to 1550. Historians do know that Idia was alive during the Idah war because she played a role that led to a great Benin victory. It has been argued that Idia, therefore, was the true power behind the throne of her son. She played a significant role in the rise and reign of her son, being described as a great warrior who fought relentlessly before and during her son's reign as the Oba (king) of the Edo people. Queen Idia was instrumental in securing the title of Oba for her son Esigie following the death of his father Oba Ozolua. To that end, she raised an army to fight off his brother Arhuaran who was supposed to be the Oba by right and tradition but was subsequently defeated in battle. Esigie’s mother became the 17th Oba of Benin.
Okpe is a kingdom in Delta State, Nigeria. Today, it is also the name of a local government area. It is one of the many kingdoms that make up Urhobo nation. Its capital is Orerokpe. The kingdom plays host to the Osubi Airport, which is actually located at Osubi and the Delta State Trade Fair Complex. The Orodje celebrated ten years on ancestral throne. Major General Felix Mujakperuo is the king of Okpe Kingdom. The kingship is usually rotated between the four ruling houses.
Aisha Ismail, MON, appointed Minister of Women Affairs from June 1999 until May 2003, is a Nigerian matriarch and public servant.
Erediauwa was the 39th Oba of Benin, traditional ruler of the Edo people in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Formerly known as Prince Solomon Akenzua, Oba Erediauwa's full title was His Royal Majesty Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I. He was succeeded by Ewuare II.
The Akure Kingdom is a traditional state with headquarters in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. It is the successor to an ancient Yoruba city state of the same name. The ruler bears the title "Deji of Akure".
In a monarchy, a regent is a person appointed to govern a state pro tempore because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been determined. One variation is in the Monarchy of Liechtenstein, where the competent Prince may choose to assign regency to their of-age heir, handing over the majority of their responsibilities to prepare the heir for succession. The rule of a regent or regents is called a regency. A regent or regency council may be formed ad hoc or in accordance with a constitutional rule. Regent is sometimes a formal title granted to a monarch's most trusted advisor or personal assistant. If the regent is holding the position due to their being in the line of succession, the compound term prince regent is often used; if the regent of a minor is their mother, and she is wife or widow of the king, she would be referred to as queen regent.
Bilkisu Yusuf was a Nigerian journalist, columnist and editor for prominent newspapers in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna, Nigeria. She is known in Nigeria for being the first woman to direct a national newspaper operation and served as editor for two more. She was a Hausa, Muslim, feminist, of Yoruba descent and advocate for interfaith society, who was known for being an adviser to the Nigerian President on International Affairs and the founding of NGOs, such as Women In Nigeria (WIN) and the Federation of Muslim Women's Association (FOMWAN). Yusuf was killed in the 2015 Mina stampede while on Haj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Ewuare II was crowned the Oba of Benin on 20 October 2016. He is the 40th Oba, a title created for the Head of State (Emperor) of the Benin Empire at some time between 1180 and 1300.
Hajiya Fatima Lolo (MON), was a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and historian.
Hajiya Haidzatu Ahmed is a Nigerian traditional ruler who has reigned as the Queen of Kumbwada since 1998. As queen, she rules firmly against domestic violence against women and is a proponent of women's education.