Kings & Queens

I knew the meaning of ‘King' and ‘Queen’ a long time ago. The first meaning was what I could see in my culture, all around me. As I grew up, the definition of a King remained, but that of a Queen changed a bit.

A king, in many cultures around the world, means ‘a male ruler’.

A queen in my culture and many others only meant ‘a woman married to the king’. But that was an incomplete definition because, in some cultures, a queen could also mean ‘a female ruler’.

If this is true, then given the right context, the word ‘king’ could be the antonym of the word ‘queen’ right?

So, why then do we have women who desperately want to be referred to as Kings?

They say it is feminism. But is it really? They say they can be whatever they choose to be, I agree.

Yet, I can’t help but wonder if the obsession of these women to be called kings isn’t based on the premise that a queen is always lesser than a king?

Is it that they never heard of the legendary Queen Amina of Zaria? I wonder why she didn’t insist on being called ‘King Amina’ after succeeding her brother on the throne.

Perhaps the legend of the northern queen was not told, what about the still living Queen of England, the one whose 'Prince' husband just passed away?

I wonder why none of these Queens took up the King title. Maybe because they are confident that being a woman and a queen is in no way a disadvantage.

Or what do you think?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.