AFRICAN QUEENS PART 2

Queen Nzinga of Ndongo and MatambA! (SLAY QUEEN)

After learning more about this queen, I became enamored with her and simultaneously furious. Why hadn't I learned about her in history class? Why hadn't I heard anything about her from my childhood upbringing?

A symbol of continental pride, Queen Nzinga of Ndonga and Matamba (modern-day Angola) ought to be the first female role model for all girls, surpassing even Barbie; her image ought to adorn t-shirts and bag packs.

She is thought to have been born in the 1600s, during the period when Portuguese settlers were involved in the slave trade. She was a bright, fearless woman who quickly picked up the language and was able to write, read, and speak it. As a result, her father, the king, showed her interest in helping to negotiate between his kingdom and the Portuguese settlers, which would position her next to the monarch and prepare her for a role she never would have imagined.

In my opinion, her father would have preferred for her to succeed him as king of the kingdom after his death, but tradition forbade it. As a result, even though her brother had any leadership qualities, he nevertheless succeeded because of customs.

 

A king in this era was not an easy one, and it was definitely not for softies. Queen Nzinga's brother was unable to withstand the chaos the Portuguese brought to his kingdom, so upon her return from her regular visits to the Portuguese settlers, King Mbandi committed suicide (I believe the news she brought killed him, but not literally). This was bad news for her people, as the kingdom was left without an official leader—my girl Nzinga was already leading and all— so the Portuguese settlers took advantage of the chaos and attacked.

When this occurred, the wise girl Queen Nzinga fled to the mountains with her people. There, she assembled a formidable army that eventually routed the Portuguese immigrants and kept her people safe from the slave trade for 40 years.

Her passion for her people drove her to go above and beyond. She was no walkover; she refused to allow traditions and customs to control her. Even though it was unheard of in her time for a woman to hold so many powers as a leader, the great queen Nzinga officially became a ruler, led, and slew (literally). What is most remarkable about the great queen Nzinga is her strength to fight even when she was allowed to be weak (the death of her father and brother). 

 She was a real supergirl, a powerhouse, a slay queen, and all you could possibly imagine. I adore her. Nzinga, queen of the kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba