Queen Nzinga
Though largely ignored in Western history, the seventeenth-century African queen Njinga was one of the most extraordinary rulers in history. In a past dominated by men, she shattered gender roles through her political skill and military agility. After her rule was threatened in 1626 by the Portuguese, she transforms herself into a fierce slave trader and waged endless war against the colonizers. Who was Queen Njinga? We may never really know. Not much was written on her, and most of what was come from European sources. Here we explore her life within the backdrop of colonialism and the Atlantic slave trade.
Born in 1583 Njinga stands as a testament to the resistance against European colonialism. Today, she is revered in Angola as a national heroine and honored in folk religions, and her complex legacy continues to penetrate and resonate in the minds of all who explore her legacy.
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