Black History Month takes place in October in the UK. However, we’re often given a sanitised version of Black history. And it rarely mentions great Black Muslims – which is why we are publishing a list of great Black Muslim men and women that have left their mark on history. We present to you one of the most influential female, Muslim scholars and historians ever, Nana Asma’u.

Being the daughter of the great Shaykh Usman dan Fodio, you would think it would be hard to follow in his footsteps, but Nana Asma’u forged her own legacy, left a mark on Islamic scholarship and shaped an entire Caliphate.

Be it from poetry to history, Nana Asma’u’s writings form an important insight into how Muslims lived in the Sokoto Caliphate in West Africa, and she still provides inspiration to many who are working in Islamic education, especially for Muslim women.

To find out more about her life, please watch this video and have a look at the further reading list below:

Further reading:

• Wikipedia
• Amazing Women in History
• Collected Works of Nana Asma’u
• The Caliph’s Sister