Zazzau

Zazzau, also known as Zaria or the Zazzau Emirate, is a historic Hausa state in northern Nigeria. It was one of the seven original Hausa city-states that emerged in the Sahel during the medieval period, with its capital at Zaria. In traditional accounts, the state's expansion and consolidation are associated with early rulers and, in popular legend, with Queen Amina, a warrior queen said to have extended Zazzau’s territory in the 16th century. The emirate prospered as a commercial center linked to trans-Saharan trade networks, trading in salt, leather, textiles, and gold among the Hausa states and beyond.

Zazzau was governed by a hereditary emir and a council of chiefs, under a system of centralized authority that controlled trade routes and urban management. In the early 19th century, the Fulani jihad led by Usman dan Fodio overthrew many Hausa rulers; Zazzau became part of the Sokoto Caliphate as an Emirate. During British colonial rule, it existed under indirect rule as a recognized traditional state within the Northern Provinces. After independence, the Zazzau Emirate remained a ceremonial and cultural authority within Kaduna State, with the seat at Zaria and a network of district heads.

Today, Zazzau preserves a rich cultural heritage and plays a role in regional diplomacy and customary law, while its urban center in Zaria remains a major education and religious center in northern Nigeria. The emirate continues to participate in national affairs as a traditional institution recognized by the Nigerian government.