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Amina - Candace - Cleopatra VII - Dahia-Al Kahina - Hatshepsut - Makeda - Nandi -
Nefertari - Nefertti - Nehanda - Nzingha - Tiye - Yaa - Asantewa
AMINA QUEEN Of ZARIA (1588-1589) This queen of Zazzua, a province of Nigeria now
known as Zaria, was born around 1533 during the reign of Sarkin (king) Zazzau Nohir. She
was probably his granddaughter. Zazzua was one of a number of Hausa city-states which
dominated the trans-Saharan trade after the collapse of the Songhai empire to the west.
Its wealth was due to trade of mainly leather goods, cloth, kola, salt, horses and imported
metals. At the age of sixteen, Amina became the heir apparent (Magajiya) to her mother,
Bakwa of Turunku, the ruling queen of Zazzua. With the title came the responsibility for a
ward in the city and daily councils with other officials. Although her mother's reign was
known for peace and prosperity, Amina also chose to learn military skills from the warriors.
Queen Bakwa died around 1566 and the reign of Zazzua passed to her younger brother
Karama. At this time Amina emerged as the leading warrior of Zazzua cavalry. Her military
achievements brought her great wealth and power. When Karama died after a ten-year
rule, Amina became queen of Zazzua. She set off on her first military expedition three
months after coming to power and continued fighting until her death. In her thirty-four
year reign, she expanded the domain of Zazzua to its largest size ever. Her main focus,
however, was not on annexation of neighboring lands, but on forcing local rulers to accept
vassal status and permit Hausa traders safe passage. She is credited with popularizing the
earthen city wall fortifications, which became characteristic of Hausa city-states since then.
She ordered building of a defensive wall around each military camp that she established.
Later, towns grew within these protective walls, many of which are still in existence. They're
known as "ganuwar Amina", or Amina's walls. She is mostly remembered as "Amina, Yar
Bakwa ta san rana," meaning "Amina, daughter of Nikatau, a woman as capable as a man.
Contributed by Danuta Bois
CANDACE EMPRESS OF ETHIOPIA (332 B.C.) Alexander reached Kemet (Ancient Egypt) in
332 B.C., on his world conquering rampage. But one of the greatest generals of the
ancient world was also the Empress of Ethiopia. This formidable black Queen Candace, was
world famous as a military tactician and field commander. Legend has it that Alexander
could not entertain even the possibilty of having his world fame and unbroken chain of
victories marred by risking a defeat, at last, by a woman. He halted his armies at the
borders of Ethiopia and did not invade to meet the waiting black armies with their Queen
in personal command.
CLEOPATRA VII QUEEN OF KEMET (Ancient Egypt the land of the blacks) (69-30 B.C)
Although known to be of African descent she is still deliberately portrayed as being white.
She came to power at the tender age of seventeen and the most popular of seven queens
to have had this name. She was also known to be a great linguist and was instumental in
making Kemet(Egypt) into the world number one super power at that time.
DAHIA-AL KAHINA QUEEN KAHINA She fought against the Arab incursion in North Africa
where under her leadership Africans fought back fiercely and drove the Arab army
northward into Tripolitania. Queen Kahina was of the Hebrew faith and she never
abandoned her religion. Her opposition to the Arab incursion was purely nationalistic, since
she favored neither Christians nor Moslems. Her death in 705 A.D by Hassen-ben-Numam
ended one of the most violet attempts to save Africa for the Africans. She prevented
Islam's southward spread into the Western Sudan. After her death the Arabs began to
change their strategy in advancing their faith and their power in Africa. The resistance to
the southward spread of Islam was so great in some areas that some of the wives of
African kings committed suicide to avoid falling into the hands of the Berbers and Arabs
who showed no mercy to the people who would not be converted to Islam
HATSHEPSUT QUEEN OF KEMET (Ancient Egypt the land of the blacks) (1503-1482 B.C.)
One of the greatest queens of ancient Kemet was Queen Hatshepsut. While she was
known as a "warrior" queen, her battles were engaged with her own rivals for the position
of power in Kemetic hierarchy. A born dynast in her own right, Hatshepsut proved to be an
aggressive and overpowering force. However, it was not in war, but in her aspiration to
ascend to the "Heru (Horus) consciousness," she displayed the strength that has given her
a place in history. She adopted the Truth of Maat and became involved in the elimination
of undesirable people and elements from Kemet. Determined to be revered in times yet
to come, Hatshepsut depicted herself in as many masculine attributes as possible, i.e.
male attire, king’s beard, etc. Although she ascended to the throne upon the death of her
king-brother Thutmose II, she exerted her rightful claim to the throne. In exercising her
power, she involved herself in foreign campaigns, a concentration on domestic affairs,
extensive building and commercial ventures. The most famous of her commercial
ventures was the Punt expedition in which goods and produce were acquired from the rich
market there to be brought back to Kemet. While it would appear that her opponents were
not antagonistic regarding her sex, they were so regarding her non-aggressive philosophy.
Even before becoming legal ruler, Hatshepsut, was actively pushing things dearest to the
hearts of all Africans leaders: the expansion of foreign trade, international diplomatic
relations, perfection of national defense, vast public building programs, securing the South
and the North through either peace or war and, one of her "pet projects", building a great
navy for both commerce and war. Her success on most of these fronts made her one of
the giants of the race.
MAKEDA QUEEN OF SHEBA (The symbol of Beauty) (960 B.C.) Click Here to link to
biography.
NANDI QUEEN OF ZULULAND (Symbol of a woman of high esteem) (1778-1826) Mother of
the great leader Shaka Zulu. Nandi is the evalasting symbol of hard work patience and
determination. She withstood and overcame many obsticles to raise to a position of power
in all Zululand.
NEFERTARI QUEEN OF KEMET (the land of the blacks) (1292-1225 B.C) Her marriage to
the great Rameses II of lower Ancient Egypt is known as one of the greatest royal love
affair ever. This marriage also brought an end to the hundred year war between upper and
lower ancient Kemet (Egypt), which in essence unified both sections into one great Kemet
which was the world leading country. Monuments of this love affair still remains today in
the temples that Rameses built for his wife at Abu Simbel.The immense structures known
as the two temples of Abu Simbel are among the most magnificent monuments in the
world. Built during the New Kingdom nearly 3,000 years ago, it was hewn from the
mountain which contains it as an everlasting dedication to King Ramses and his wife
Nefertari. Superb reliefs on the temple detail the Battle of Kadesh, and Ramses and
Nefertari consorting with the deities and performing religous rituals. The rays of the sun
still penetrate to the Holy of Holies in the rock of the main temple on the same two days
of the year: the 20th of October and the 20th of Febuary. This timing is probably
connected to the symbolic unification, via the rays of the sun, of the statue of Ra-
Herakhty and the statue of Ramses II. Up to today these structures remains as the
largest, most majestic structures ever built to honor a wife.
NEFERTITI QUEEN OF KEMET (Ancient Egypt the land of the blacks) It is believe by some
historians that Nefertiti was the daughter of Aye and Tiy, while other claims her as the
oldest daughter of Amenhotep III. Nefertiti was married to Akhenaten the originated of
the one god concept(monotheism) as it became known today. During the early life of
Nefertiti she lived in a Kemet where a new model of human nature in relation to god was
emerging. This belief considered man primarily has a material entity, whose happiness
was measured by his ability to acquire and maintain a material heaven(wealth and
pleasure). In this material heaven women were not principals that predicted or participated
in social policy, but were objects of sensuality or objects to be used by men. As weaker
members of this paradise women could not be participants in its building. This belief was
completely contrary to the beliefs of the ancients and the principles of Ma'at. Akhenaten
developed another model. The nature of his new religion was that Aton represented by the
Sun was the sole god and creator of all life. Nefertiti could not relegate herself to the
traditional role of subservient-queen. She envisioned an active role for herself in
reshaping civilization. This was later manifested as she is shown participating in all the
religious ceremonies with Akhenaten. It was only through the combined royal pair that the
god Aton's full blessing could be bestowed. Nefertiti is displayed with a prominence that
other Egyptian queens were not. Her name is enclosed in a royal cartouche, and there are
in fact more statues and drawings of her than of Akhenaten. Yet the priest with their
materialist model were powerful and they dominated the higher government offices. In
this arena women were incapable of divinity. Akhenaten and Nefertiti countered a revolt by
the priest and emerged victorious and created a new capital for Kemet called Akhetaten a
city that could give birth to their scared mission, a mission in pursuit of Divine life. She
insisted on being portrayed has a equal divine partner to Akhenaten and their exist many
illustrations of her riding a chariot with Akhenaten during major rituals. While Akhenaten's
ideas wanned without him their to defend them. The priest still considered Nefertiti's
heresy a greater threat. The concept of a woman bypassing the male priest hood via a
mother-goddess to worship the divine was totally unacceptable. And sadly enough
continues to be unacceptable in the major religions that dominate the world today.
Nefertiti though her devotion and her demand for respect proved she deserved a special
place in the history of women.
NEHANDAMBUYA (Grandmother) OF ZIMBABWE When the English invaded Zimbabwe in
1896 and began confiscating land and cattle, Nehanda and other leaders declared war.
Nehanda also displayed remarkable leadership and organizational skills at a young age.
Though dead for nearly a hundred years, Nehanda remains what she was when alive, the
single most important person in the modern history of Zimbabwe. She is still referred to
as Mbuya (Grandmother) Nehanda by Zimbabwean patriots.
NZINGHAAMAZON QUEEN OF MATAMBA WEST AFRICA (1582-1663) A very good military
leader who waged war against the savage slave-hunting Europeans. This war lasted for
more than thirty years. Nzingha was of Angoloan descent and is known as a symbol of
inspiration for people everywhere. Queen Nzingha is also known by some as Jinga by
others as Ginga. She was a member of the ethnic Jagas a militant group that formed a
human shield against the Portuguese slave traders. As a visionary political leader,
competent, and self sacrificing she was completely devoted to the resistance movement.
She formed alliances with other foreign powers pitting them against one another to free
Angola of European influence. She possessed both masculine hardness and feminine
charm and used them both depending on the situation. She even used religion as a
political tool when it suited her. Her death on December 17, 1663 helped open the door
for the massive Portuguese slave trade. Yet her struggle helped awaken others that
followed her and forced them to mount offensives against the invaders. These include
Madame Tinubu of Nigeria; Nandi, the mother of the great Zulu warrior Chaka; Kaipkire of
the Herero people of South West Africa; and the female army that followed the Dahomian
King, Behanzin Bowelle.
TIYETHE NUBIAN QUEEN OF KEMET (Ancient Egypt) (1415-1340 B.C.) Black, beautiful and
georgous, Queen Tiye is regarded as one of the most influential Queens ever to rule
Kemet. A princess of Nubian birth, she married the Kemetan King Amenhotep III who
ruled during the New Kingdom Dynasties around 1391BC. Queen Tiye held the title of
"Great Royal Wife" and acted upon it following the end of her husband's reign. It was Tiye
who held sway over Kemet during the reign of her three sons Amenhotep IV (Akhenaton),
Smenkhare, and the famous child king Tut-ankh-amen. For nearly half of a century, Tiye
governed Kemet, regulated her trade, and protected her borders. During this time, she
was believed to be the standard of beauty in the ancient world.
YAA ASANTEWA Yaa Asantewa of the Ashanti EmpireHer fight against British colonialists
is a story that is woven throughout the history of Ghana. One evening the chiefs held a
secret meeting at Kumasi. Yaa Asantewa, the Queen Mother of Ejisu, was at the meeting.
The chiefs were discussing how they should make war on the white men and force them to
bring back the Asantehene. Yaa Asantewa noticed that some of the chiefs were afraid.
Some said that there should be no war. They should rather go to beg the Governor to
bring back the Asantehene King Prempeh. Then suddenly Yaa Asantewa stood up and
spoke. This was what she said: "Now I have seen that some of you fear to go forward to
fight for our king. If it were in the brave days of, the days of Osei Tutu, Okomfo Anokye,
and Opolu Ware, chiefs would not sit down to see thief king taken away without firing a
shot. No white man could have dared to speak to chief of the Ashanti in the way the
Governor spoke to you chiefs this morning. Is it true that the bravery of the Ashanti is no
more? I cannot believe it. It cannot be! I must say this, if you the men of Ashanti will not
go forward, then we will. We the women will. I shall call upon my fellow women. We will
fight the white men. We will fight till the last of us falls in the battlefields." This speech
stirred up the men who took an oath to fight the white men until they released the
Asantehene. For months the Ashantis led by Yaa Asantewa fought very bravely and kept
the white men in the fort. Yet British reinforcements totaling 1,400 soldiers arrived at
Kumasi. Yaa Asantewa and other leaders were captured and sent into exile. Yaa
Asantewa's war was the last of the major war in Africa led by a women.