Powerful Women in Africa
Women may be considered the weaker gender in Africa, but history records strong women who rose to power at great heights. Read this feature of 5 African Queens that are not very popular, but were highly powerful during their era.
Amina - the Queen of Zaria, Nigeria, in the 15th century
Aminatu, commonly known as Amina, was a great Hausa warrior who later became queen of Zazzu; apparently known as Zaria. As a grand daughter to king Sarkin, Amina was the heir of the throne after Bakwa of Turunky (the king's wife and mother to Amina). Contrary to how her mother used to rule the Zazzau kingdom, Amina chose to be a warrior and eventually became one of the greatest warriors of the Zazzau kingdom. When her mother died, the kingdom was passed to Karama - the queen's younger brother - who ruled for 10 years. After Karama's death, Amina became the queen of Zazzau.
She rule for 34 years and continued to be an active warrior until her death. History has it that she conducted her first military-expedition 3 months after she stepped into power. This helped her to hold her power into place for another 34 years. She expanded the Zazzau kingdom into one of the greatest domains of that time. Her main focus was not entirely based on annexing lands form her neighboring communities, instead she fought hard to grant the Hausa traders of that time a safe passage through Kingdoms. She is also acclaimed for being the ruler behind the fortified city walls - a common characteristic of Hausa states.
Candace - the empress of Ethiopia, 332 BC
In a bid to conquer the formidable Ancient Egyptian kingdom, Alexander first had to invade Ethiopia in 332 BC. However, his army could not go past Ethiopia since it was being commanded by one of the most dreaded generals of that time, Empress Candace. King Alexander decided to pull back his army as he could not risk being defeated by this great African Empress. Historically, Candace is credited as one of the strongest female military tacticians who also had great military commanding skills.
Makeda - The Queen of Sheba, 960 BC
Makeda is the subject of the most recited bible verses and an inevitable subject of the present time history. Her achievements and her great kingdom will forever be hailed by several generations yet to come. The most interesting story of this great African leader is when she met with the biblical King Solomon. In fact, she's described as the epitome of beauty and power, and has a series of other remarkable achievements recorded in the Glory-of-Kings and the Kebar Nagast.
During the reign of Makeda, Ethiopia was considered to be second after Egypt as far as power and fame was concerned. Several kingdoms were fascinated by how this female ruler could make such a small kingdom to be one of the most revered kingdoms in the world. This is what made king Solomon interested in having a commercial relationship with Sheba. As a result, he decided to invite Queen Makeda to Israel and the rest is history.
Nefertiti - Queen of Ancient kemet from 1292 BC to 1225 BC
Queen Nefertiti is well acknowledged as the queen who brought the war between the lower Kemet and upper Kemet to an end when she decided to defy their indifference by marrying Ramses II - the Pharaoh of the lower Egypt. There are several monuments of their epic love affair in Abu Simbel. Historians also believe that she was the eldest daughter to Amenhotep III, and that she played an active role in reshaping ancient Egyptian civilization.
Queen Nefertiti has been placed above all the other Egyptian queens. Her name is enclosed in the Egyptian royal Cartouche. In addition, there are several statues and drawings that honor her in Egypt. There also many folk songs and tales that talk about her and King Akhenaten, or Ramses II, and how they faced a tough resistance from the priests of that time, but eventually won.
Yaa Asantewa - Ashanti kingdom, Ghana
Last but not least is the Ghanaians Yaa Asantewa, known as the woman who fearlessly fought against British colonialists to her exile. The speech she last gave to the chiefs who were about to chicken out from the war against colonists is what inspired several men to go ahead and fight against the British for the release of their king, King Prempe who had been captured by the British. Queen Asantewa, together with other warriors, managed to keep the British army at fort but were eventually captures and exiled. Historically, Yaa Asantewa is credited as the last woman to ever lead a major war against the colonists, thus her name will forever be remembered throughout African history.
Amina - the Queen of Zaria, Nigeria, in the 15th century
Aminatu, commonly known as Amina, was a great Hausa warrior who later became queen of Zazzu; apparently known as Zaria. As a grand daughter to king Sarkin, Amina was the heir of the throne after Bakwa of Turunky (the king's wife and mother to Amina). Contrary to how her mother used to rule the Zazzau kingdom, Amina chose to be a warrior and eventually became one of the greatest warriors of the Zazzau kingdom. When her mother died, the kingdom was passed to Karama - the queen's younger brother - who ruled for 10 years. After Karama's death, Amina became the queen of Zazzau.
She rule for 34 years and continued to be an active warrior until her death. History has it that she conducted her first military-expedition 3 months after she stepped into power. This helped her to hold her power into place for another 34 years. She expanded the Zazzau kingdom into one of the greatest domains of that time. Her main focus was not entirely based on annexing lands form her neighboring communities, instead she fought hard to grant the Hausa traders of that time a safe passage through Kingdoms. She is also acclaimed for being the ruler behind the fortified city walls - a common characteristic of Hausa states.
Candace - the empress of Ethiopia, 332 BC
In a bid to conquer the formidable Ancient Egyptian kingdom, Alexander first had to invade Ethiopia in 332 BC. However, his army could not go past Ethiopia since it was being commanded by one of the most dreaded generals of that time, Empress Candace. King Alexander decided to pull back his army as he could not risk being defeated by this great African Empress. Historically, Candace is credited as one of the strongest female military tacticians who also had great military commanding skills.
Makeda - The Queen of Sheba, 960 BC
Makeda is the subject of the most recited bible verses and an inevitable subject of the present time history. Her achievements and her great kingdom will forever be hailed by several generations yet to come. The most interesting story of this great African leader is when she met with the biblical King Solomon. In fact, she's described as the epitome of beauty and power, and has a series of other remarkable achievements recorded in the Glory-of-Kings and the Kebar Nagast.
During the reign of Makeda, Ethiopia was considered to be second after Egypt as far as power and fame was concerned. Several kingdoms were fascinated by how this female ruler could make such a small kingdom to be one of the most revered kingdoms in the world. This is what made king Solomon interested in having a commercial relationship with Sheba. As a result, he decided to invite Queen Makeda to Israel and the rest is history.
Nefertiti - Queen of Ancient kemet from 1292 BC to 1225 BC
Queen Nefertiti is well acknowledged as the queen who brought the war between the lower Kemet and upper Kemet to an end when she decided to defy their indifference by marrying Ramses II - the Pharaoh of the lower Egypt. There are several monuments of their epic love affair in Abu Simbel. Historians also believe that she was the eldest daughter to Amenhotep III, and that she played an active role in reshaping ancient Egyptian civilization.
Queen Nefertiti has been placed above all the other Egyptian queens. Her name is enclosed in the Egyptian royal Cartouche. In addition, there are several statues and drawings that honor her in Egypt. There also many folk songs and tales that talk about her and King Akhenaten, or Ramses II, and how they faced a tough resistance from the priests of that time, but eventually won.
Yaa Asantewa - Ashanti kingdom, Ghana
Last but not least is the Ghanaians Yaa Asantewa, known as the woman who fearlessly fought against British colonialists to her exile. The speech she last gave to the chiefs who were about to chicken out from the war against colonists is what inspired several men to go ahead and fight against the British for the release of their king, King Prempe who had been captured by the British. Queen Asantewa, together with other warriors, managed to keep the British army at fort but were eventually captures and exiled. Historically, Yaa Asantewa is credited as the last woman to ever lead a major war against the colonists, thus her name will forever be remembered throughout African history.
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