Queen Zaria of Zazzau (African Queens Textured Art)

Step into the commanding legacy of Queen Zaria (Zegga), a 14th-century foundational matriarch of the Zazzau Kingdom in what is now Northern Nigeria. Known for her fearless leadership and territorial authority, Queen Zaria ruled with a power so assured it did not require constant display. Her authority was understood, embodied, and respected. This artwork honours a queen whose strength lay not only in battle, but in her absolute command over herself, her people, and her land.

This original textured art reimagines Queen Zaria in a moment of grounded sovereignty. Seated beside a white lion—calm, watchful, and immense—she embodies leadership that is unshaken and self-possessed. Their closeness reflects mutual trust and dominance without tension: a ruler so secure in her power that even the fiercest force rests peacefully at her side. The lion is not posed as a threat, but as a guardian—strength at rest, power contained.

Warm ochres, burnished golds, and layered earth tones dominate the composition, set against Jedidah’s signature textured background. The tactile surface speaks to heritage and legacy—weathered by time yet unbroken. Adorned with ancestral jewellery and wrapped in richly patterned textiles, the queen’s presence anchors the piece in African history, while the lion’s pale coat adds a striking contrast that reinforces the theme of rare, commanding strength.

Queen Zaria represents the phase of expansion through authority—a ruler who did not ask for space but claimed it, protected it, and ruled it with confidence. Where others ruled through fear, she ruled through presence. Her story reminds us that African queens were empire builders, cultural architects, and strategic leaders whose influence shaped entire regions.

More than a portrait, this African artwork is a meditation on feminine power at rest. It celebrates control without chaos, dominance without brutality, and resilience rooted in self-knowledge. The lion becomes her spiritual mirror—a symbol of guardianship, ancestral protection, and leadership that does not need to roar to be heard.

Created by one of today’s contemporary African artists, this original wild life art is ideal for collectors seeking meaningful African artworks and Black History Month art that carries cultural depth, historical grounding, and narrative strength. It brings quiet authority and ancestral presence into contemporary interiors.

As part of Jedidah’s growing collection of African queens, this piece stands as a tribute to Queen Zaria (Zegga)—a 14th-century ruler whose legacy reminds us that true power is not always in motion, but in presence, restraint, and unwavering self-belief.

For more art Black History month art, visit the “Out of Africa” range.