For as long as there has been human history, women have been making it. Inspired by true events, the film The Woman King sparked worldwide interest in the overlooked history of the African women who led empires and armies and fiercely defended their communities. It's a journey where the modern world meets its historical roots, unveiling moments when people lived incredible lives.
Many years ago, women were leaders and not mere followers looking for a voice. Even though Black women have been at the forefront of impressive exploits in combat, their stories are often overlooked.
Statue of Queen Amina of Zaria in Lagos
Here are some of the formidable African female warriors that were a force to reckon with:
Queen Amina of Zaria
Commonly known as the warrior queen, Amina expanded the territory of the Hausa people of North Africa through military campaigns, earning the moniker “Amina, the Conqueror.” She was a legendary military leader and warrior queen, born around 1533 in Zazzau, in present-day Kaduna State, Nigeria.
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After their parents died in 1566, Karama was named the King of Zazzau through tradition, and Amina became the lead warrior of the kingdom’s army. She was crowned Queen of Zaria in 1576 after her brother’s death, and within three months, expanded the kingdom’s borders through a series of successful strategic battles. Queen Amina reigned for 34 years and died in battle in Altagara, near Bida, in 1610 at the age of 77.
There is a government secondary school in Kaduna named Queen Amina College, and female dormitories called Queen Amina Hall at the University of Lagos and Ahmadu Bello University.
Queen Nzinga Mbande
Ana de Sousa Nzinga was born around 1583 in Kabasa, the capital of the Kingdom of Ndongo (now Angola), into the royal family of Ndongo. Nicknamed “Njinga Mbande,” meaning “Queen who turns men into women,” she refused to bow to Portuguese slave traders, waging a guerrilla war for decades, forming strategic alliances, and mastering guerrilla tactics.
Nzingha had two sisters: Mukumbu or Lady Barbara and Kifunji or Lady Grace, and a brother, Mbandi Kiluanji, who took over the throne after their father died in 1617. As the new king, Mbandi felt paranoid that one day Nzinga’s only son (a baby) would plot to have him assassinated, so he ordered him killed. Nzinga was later crowned the ruler in 1624 after her brother’s death, becoming one of the few female rulers in African history.
Her legacy lives on; she has been featured in children’s books, video games, and even a Netflix docudrama series.
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Yaa Asantewaa
Yaa Asantewaa, Queen Mother of Ejisu, was born in the 1840s and ascended to the title Queen Mother sometime in the 1880s. When her brother died in 1894, Yaa Asantewaa used her right as Queen Mother to nominate her grandson as Ejisuhene. In 1896, Asantewaa became regent of the Ejisu-Juaben district when the British exiled him and other members of the Asante government to the Seychelles.
British Governor Frederick Hodgson demanded the Golden Stool, and in response, Yaa Asantewaa rallied the chiefs to war with a powerful speech, during which she seized a gun and fired a shot into the air. To commemorate her influence, a museum was opened in her honor in the Ejisu-Juaben District of Ghana in August 2000. Sadly, a fire there on July 23, 2004, destroyed several historical items, including her sandals and battle dress.
Queen Moremi Ajasoro
Queen Moremi was a renowned Yoruba queen from the Yorubaland region of modern-day southwestern Nigeria. Details of her birth and death remain obscure, as she hasn’t received much scholarly focus. From what was gathered, Moremi was said to be a princess from the town of Offa and lived in the 12th century.
Their kingdom was being raided by the neighboring Ugbos, who enslaved those captured. As a patriot who couldn’t bear to see how unhappy her people and her husband, the king, were, she devised a plan to resolve their plight. She allowed herself to be captured to gather intelligence for her people. When she got what she wanted, she escaped and revealed all to the Yoruba army, who then went on to defeat their enemy.
To this day, she is remembered and revered as a heroine who sacrificed everything for the freedom of her people. She is honored through the Edi festival, with several university halls of residences, teaching halls, and roads named after her.
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Queen Moremi Ajasoro
The Dahomey Amazons
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Although members of the all-female military unit are often called Amazons for being larger than life, historians say the colonial term doesn't do justice to these very real women and their accomplishments. Dahomey was located in present-day Benin and existed until 1904. Their emergence was said to have been due to Dahomey’s male population facing high casualties in frequent warfare with neighboring West African states as well as the kingdom being forced to annually give male slaves to the Oyo Empire.
Villages were raided with the specific aim of capturing prisoners (with their heads intact) to sell into slavery. Aside from the slave trade, Dahomey fought to acquire fertile land for farming and to boost its trade in palm oil.
The women warriors of Dahomey were known by many names in the Fon language-including Gbeto, Agojie, and Mino. Far from the sleek costumes of their film counterparts, they wore tunics and long shorts during combat.
Tales of their exploits astonished many European explorers and slave traders, and the region’s female fighters helped burnish Dahomey’s reputation as a force to be reckoned with.
Dahomey Amazons
Other Notable African Queens
Here are some other African queens who played influential roles in their kingdoms:
- Queen Makeda of Sheba: Known for her wealth, power, and intelligence.
- Queen Nefertiti: The royal wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten, known for championing religious revolution.
- Queen Cleopatra VII: Ruled as a lawgiver in Egypt and other territories, known for her political affairs.
- Queen Ranavalona: Ruled Madagascar for 33 years, known for resisting European forces.
- Queen Nandi: Mother of Shaka Zulu, known for her strength and resilience.
- Queen Muhumuza: Rebellled against Rwandan colonial powers and fought for human rights.
- Kandake Amanirenas: A fearless warrior who waged war against the Roman forces.
The Legacy of African Warrior Queens
There is no arguing that women made significant contributions to the development of African nations as traders, educators, cultivators, priestesses, healers, and more. Stereotypically, politics and power has been a traditionally male domain. But regardless, many magnificent women have earned their way into the greatest bastions of power.
The heroic acts of these African warrior queens will continue to stay in our hearts. Hopefully, many young African girls will read their stories and find inspiration to strive for greatness.
