Nana Asma’u: The Princess Who Loved Learning

Massively educated princess who started all-female gang of itinerant teachers, who would roam the land and educate unsuspecting passersby.

Cut Content: Nana Asma’u’s dad

Usman dan Fodio, whom Boko Haram cites as an influence, had a life far more complex than this entry had room for. He rooted out institutional corruption and greed, and strongly advocated education — but he did it through an incredibly violent series of holy wars (jihads) with a level of impact rivaling that of the Crusades, or the French Revolution. While it’s impossible to defend much of Fodio’s actions, the entry is about his daughter, whose love of learning he highly treasured: a trait that places Boko Haram at direct odds with both Fodio and Nana Asma’u.

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Art Notes

Nana Asma’u’s hairstyle is one I found in my research on Fulani tribes, which I think is just the neatest:

Same with the face paint on the various members of her group. I was unsure what their hats looked like, so I modeled them after traditional Fulani hats.

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