OverviewA scholar and poet who helped women learn in West Africa.CategoryWoman scholarPeriodc. 1793 – 1864 CE
Life and settingNana Asma’u was a daughter of Usman dan Fodio and lived in the scholarly world of the Sokoto caliphate.Source: Jean Boyd and Beverly Mack, The Legacy of Nana Asma’u (publisher excerpt)
Work and legacyShe composed poetry in several languages and helped organize networks of women educators. Her work connected religious instruction with the educational needs of local communities.Source: Jean Boyd and Beverly Mack, The Legacy of Nana Asma’u (publisher excerpt)
SourcesOriginal concise biography based on the cited references. Historical reports, later devotional traditions and uncertain dates are distinguished where relevant.Jean Boyd and Beverly Mack, The Legacy of Nana Asma’u (publisher excerpt)
