Queen Nzingha or “Amazon Queen of Matamba”
was born in West Africa in 1583 and died 1663.
Many women ranked among the great rulers of
Africa, including this Angolan queen who was an
astute diplomat and excelled as a military leader.
When the slave-hunting Portuguese attacked the
army of her brother’s kingdom, Nzingha was sent
to negotiate the peace. She did so with
astonishing skill and political tact, despite the fact
that her brother had her only child killed.
She later formed her own army against the
Portuguese, and waged war for nearly 30 years.
These battles were a unique moment in colonial
history as Nzingha allied her nation with the
Dutch, marking the first African-European alliance
against a European oppressor. Nzingha continued
to wield considerable influence among her
subjects despite being forced into exile. Because
of her quest for freedom and relentless drive to
bring peace to her people, Nzingha remains a
glimmering symbol of inspiration.
Comments
Post a Comment