Final answer:
Queen Idia of the Benin Empire is the famous Mama mentioned, serving as inspiration for The Emperor's New Groove's character Yzma. As a powerful queen mother, Idia had significant influence in royal affairs, which is a historical pattern seen in other high-status women across various cultures and empires.
Step-by-step explanation:
The famous Mama referenced in the student's question, and who was used as a reference for Yzma in The Emperor's New Groove, is likely Queen Idia of the Benin Empire. This powerful queen mother, also known as an iyoba, was instrumental to the protection and well-being of the king, or oba, and by extension, the kingdom itself.
Influential queen mothers like Idia were a central part of the royal family's power structure, emphasizing their importance both in the physical world and in the afterlife, as seen in statues from the Old Kingdom of Egypt.
Throughout different periods and regions, such as in the Mongol Empire and the Sultanate of Women, women in positions similar to queen mothers like Idia held significant power and influence in politics and society.
These women were sometimes capable of leading armies, ruling in place of their husbands or sons, and commanding great respect and authority. Queen Idia's legacy as a strong female leader is echoed in various cultures and inspired the character design of Yzma in popular culture.