It’s Black History Month, and Mahogany Xan would like to put the spotlight on some powerful women of Africa’s past—specifically, Black queens and stories you probably haven’t heard about.
- Queen Yaa Asantewaa. Born in 1840, she was the queen mother of Ejisu in the Ashanti Empire, which is part of what is now known as Ghana. Her list of titles is seemingly endless: war-leader, human rights activist, farmer, intellectual, and politician. Most notably, she fought against British colonialism; she was the first and only woman to be chosen by Asante kings to lead the war. Unfortunately, she died in exile in 1921 after being captured. She dreamed of seeing her West African state free of British rule, and her dream came true on March 6th, 1957. The Asante protectorate gained independence as part of Ghana, the first African nation in Sub-Saharan Africa to do so thanks in no small part to her efforts.
- Queen Moremi Ajasoro. This Yoruba queen is beloved for liberating the kingdom of Ife from the Ugbo Kingdom in the 12th century. She’s said to have acted as a spy, marrying the ruler of the Ugbo and then delivering the information about their military back to the Yorubas in order to defeat them. She also received help from the spirit of the river, Esimirin, to whom she sacrificed her son. The Yoruba people honor her sacrifice with the Edi Festival, and to this day consider themselves her eternal children.
- Queen Amina. She’s somewhat shrouded in mystery, but that doesn’t make her accomplishments any less significant. Queen Amina was a Hausa Muslim in what is now in the northwestern region of Nigeria during the 16th century CE. She was a fierce warrior and named the heir apparent of Zazzau at just age 16. She grew up deeply involved in military and political affairs. Three months after being crowned queen, she began a 34-year campaign to expand Zazzau. Her cause of death is unknown, but her legacy is embellished in plenty of cultural references, from historical fantasy novels to video games.
- Queen Nzingha Mbande (pictured). As with most of the women on this list, this queen lived a long, full life that’s impossible to condense into a single paragraph without leaving out important details. She ruled present-day northern Angola with brilliant military tactics and a strong cultural identity for 37 years. As a child, she trained with a battle ax at her father’s side and joined numerous war councils. She’s known for establishing peace between the Kingdoms of Ndongo and the Portuguese Empire at the time of the rampant African slave trade and struggles for dominance. A Starz series about her is currently in development.
These queens have made their marks on history, and deserve to be remembered for years to come. The only way to make sure history isn’t forgotten is to share their stories. Take the time to learn more about these amazing women.
Happy Black History Month!
penned by Diva Ferrell
