The North of Nigeria is generally characterized as a harsh area dominated by draconian Shar'ia Law and heavily conservative views. Shar'ia is a law system dictated by the fundamentalist readings of the Qua'ran. For instance the beating of adulterous persons is fully justified; "The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication—flog each of them with hundred stripes: Let no compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by God, if ye believe in God and the last day.”, as is the execution of an apostate. Women are barred from ruling.Except in the case of the Kingdom of Kumbwada, Nigeria in which only a female may occupy the throne thanks to an ancient curse that prohibits the crowning of males.
Queen Hajiya Haidzatu Ahmed is making strides in the generally oppressive air of Northern Nigeria. She lends an ear to women who come to her unhappy in arranged marriage or complaining of domestic violence in a region that typically disregards such grievances.
The one thing Queen Ahmed does not like but grants in necessary circumstances is divorce. She generally likes to engage in a sort of couples-counseling. "But if that's not possible, if there's no way she can have any compassion for him or love, it's not her fault or his fault. It's just natural." She says.
The queen hopes to see a female president of Nigeria one day,
"It's my most ardent wish. I think the problems in Nigeria have become intractable. Let's try a woman. Men have failed."
This made me so happy. Queen Ahmed sounds like an awesome lady. Where/how large is the Kingdom of Kumbwada? How much power does she actually have?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure, but she is definitely the go-to lady of the village.
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