Weaving Tradition into Prosperity: How Zaria’s Queen Amina Embroidery Empowers Women
In Zaria, 40 women work side by side on plain cloth. Each stitch follows patterns passed down for hundreds of years. Named after Queen Amina, the cooperative turns Hausa embroidery into a reliable source of income. Its manager, Hassana Yusuf, leads 40 artisans. She handles orders from overseas buyers, ensures timely pay, and secures work for the coming month. Under her guidance, tradition has become a thriving business. A partnership with a global craft label began with solar lights for evening work. It grew to include a new workspace, sewing machines, and workshop rent support. Artisans are treated as partners, not charity cases, with fair pay and clear agreements. The cooperative insists that cultural identity must sit at the heart of every piece. They aim to preserve heritage while building a sustainable industry. Key questions now are how to balance fair export earnings with local affordability, scale artisan enterprises, and create policies that keep traditional crafts self-sustaining.
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