The Brave Women Warriors of Africa

 Centuries prior to and amidst the European colonization of Africa, the continent hosted flourishing ancient kingdoms and empires. Remarkably, some were under the leadership of women, including female warriors who courageously commanded armies against encroaching European forces, safeguarding their societies from subjugation and exploitation.

From the legendary Queen Amina of Zazzau, whose military prowess expanded the boundaries of the Hausa kingdom, to the renowned Dahomey Amazons—a formidable corps of female soldiers celebrated for their fearlessness in battle—African history abounds with tales of extraordinary women who defied gender expectations to shape the course of events on the battlefield.

Despite their pivotal roles in combat, the narratives of Black women often remain obscured. Highlighted below are African female warrior queens and all-female military units who valiantly battled for liberation from colonial dominance.

Defying Rome: The Reign of Queen Amanirenas

Queen Amanirenas, reigning around 40 B.C., governed the Kingdom of Kush situated in the Nubian region, present-day Sudan, from 40 B.C. to 10 B.C. When the Roman emperor Augustus seized control of neighboring Egypt in 30 B.C. and eyed Kush for his next conquest, Amanirenas orchestrated a surprise assault on the Roman forces. 

Commanding a force of 30,000 soldiers from the forefront, Amanirenas effectively seized three cities under Roman dominion. However, Rome swiftly retaliated by launching an invasion into Kush, resulting in the destruction of the kingdom's capital and the enslavement of thousands of its people. Following years of intense conflict and significant losses on both sides, negotiations for peace commenced in 24 B.C., eventually leading to a peace treaty five years after the conflict's outset.

 

Despite the cessation of hostilities resulting in a deadlock, Queen Amanirenas emerged victorious in her resistance against Roman conquest, unlike many of her contemporaries. She steadfastly refused to relinquish substantial territories or submit to Roman taxation. Amanirenas's legacy endures throughout the Nile Valley and beyond as the Nubian queen who defiantly repelled Roman forces.

 

 

Queen Nzinga Mbande: Defender of the Mbundu People against Colonial Aggression

Queen Nzinga Mbande (c. 1583-1663) was a formidable political figure and military tactician, reigning over the Mbundu people in present-day Angola. As Portugal sought to bolster its slave trade by establishing a colony near Mbundu territory, Nzinga ascended to the throne in 1626 following her brother's tragic suicide amid Portuguese encroachment.

 

Prior to her coronation, at her brother’s behest, Nzinga engaged in negotiations with the Portuguese, showcasing her adept diplomatic skills. In 1622, she brokered a strategic alliance with Portugal, aiming to safeguard her people from rival African factions seeking to trade captives. This alliance permitted Nzinga to fend off slave raiders in exchange for arms and an agreement to halt Portuguese incursions into Mbundu lands.

 

However, Portugal reneged on its promises by the time Nzinga assumed queenship, prompting her resolute resistance. In 1627, she forged a fleeting partnership with the Dutch, adversaries of the Portuguese, and led a military campaign against them.

 

Throughout her reign, Nzinga exhibited unparalleled leadership, valiantly thwarting Portuguese advances for decades and personally leading her troops, even in her later years. Despite numerous Portuguese attempts to capture her, Nzinga eluded their grasp, passing away peacefully in her eighties after a lifetime dedicated to shielding her people from colonial domination.

 

Echoes of Courage: The Legacy of the Dahomey Amazon

The defenders of Dahomey Kingdom were none other than the formidable Dahomey Amazons, also referred to as the Agojie by the Fon tribe. This all-female military regiment, situated in present-day Benin, garnered their moniker from European observers, drawing parallels to the legendary female warriors of Greek mythology.

 

Emerging in the midst of turmoil during the mid to late 1600s, the Dahomey Amazons filled the void left by heavy losses suffered by the male population in ongoing conflicts with neighboring kingdoms. Renowned for their unparalleled courage and valor on the battlefield, they struck fear into the hearts of adversaries.

 

Collaborating with European colonial powers, the Amazons engaged in strategic alliances to fortify and expand Dahomey's dominion, often trading captured foes for vital supplies and weaponry. By the mid-1800s, their ranks swelled to an estimated 4,000 women, each dedicated to surpassing men in every aspect, as immortalized in their spirited songs.

 

In 1890, under the command of King Behanzin, the Dahomey women fiercely repelled invading French colonists, marking a pivotal moment in their history. Despite subsequent battles, Dahomey succumbed to French forces in 1892, spelling the demise of both the kingdom and its renowned female army.

 

Yet, their legacy endures through the vibrant dances still performed in present-day Benin, while their remarkable tale serves as the inspiration for the upcoming film, "Woman King."

 

Queen Nanny of the Maroons: A NATIONAL HEROINE'S LEGACY

Queen Nanny stands as a revered figure in Jamaican history, revered as the leader of the Jamaican Maroons, a community of liberated African slaves who waged a persistent guerrilla campaign against British colonial forces during what is known as the First Maroon War.

 

Much of Queen Nanny's story is preserved through oral tradition, as written records of her life are scant. Legend has it that she hailed from the Ashanti tribe in present-day Ghana. While the specifics of her journey to Jamaica remain elusive, it's widely believed that she arrived as an enslaved individual before breaking free and joining other emancipated individuals in the rugged terrain of the Blue Mountain region.

 

By 1720, Queen Nanny's exceptional leadership and military acumen had propelled her to the forefront of the Maroon community. She diligently trained her compatriots in the art of guerrilla warfare, devising innovative tactics that caught the well-equipped British forces off guard, resulting in numerous victories and the liberation of countless enslaved individuals who found refuge within Maroon society.

 

The effectiveness of Queen Nanny's strategies forced the British to negotiate a peace treaty in 1740, acknowledging the Maroons' autonomy. This treaty marked a significant milestone in the struggle for freedom and justice in Jamaica.

 

In 1975, the Jamaican government officially recognized Queen Nanny as a national hero, conferring upon her the esteemed title of "Right Excellent." Her legacy endures, immortalized on the Jamaican five-hundred dollar bill, serving as a symbol of resilience, leadership, and the ongoing fight for liberation.

 

YAA ASANTEWAA: THE COURAGEOUS LEADER IN GHANA'S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM

Yaa Asantewaa, renowned as a courageous freedom fighter, was a Ghanaian queen who boldly led her people in defiance against British colonial rule. Born into a lineage of traditional rulers around 1840, her legacy became immortalized in her remarkable stand against oppression.

 

In 1900, as the British sought to assert dominance over the Ashanti people, a pivotal moment arose when a colonial administrator attempted to seize a revered Ashanti artifact, the Golden Stool. This brazen act ignited a fervent resistance among the Ashanti, who saw the stool as the epitome of their sovereignty.

 

Sir Frederick Hodgson, the British Governor of the Gold Coast, made a grave miscalculation by not only coveting the Golden Stool but also demanding ownership of it, oblivious to its sacred significance to the Ashanti. Outraged by this affront, the Ashanti people convened, yet doubts lingered among tribal chiefs about the feasibility of challenging the British might.

 

In a defining moment, Yaa Asantewaa emerged as a beacon of courage, addressing the assembled chiefs with resolute determination. Her impassioned words rallied the Ashanti, as she declared, "If you the men of Ashanti will not go forward, then we the women will. I shall call upon my fellow women. We will fight till the last of us falls in the battlefields."

 

Under her leadership, the Ashanti launched a spirited resistance against the British forces, a remarkable feat considering the prevailing norms of the time. Beginning in 1900, Asantewaa's forces besieged the occupying British, nearly overwhelming them and forcing them to seek reinforcements and heavy artillery to subdue the uprising.

 

Despite her eventual capture and exile to the Seychelles, where she lived until her passing in 1921, Yaa Asantewaa's defiance remained undimmed. The British never succeeded in capturing the coveted Golden Stool. Her valiant struggle became a cornerstone in Ghana's journey to independence, culminating in its liberation in March 1957.