In 1692, Queen Nzinga of Ndongo went to Luanda to negotiate with the Portuguese on the royal family’s behalf.
The Portuguese, who was seated, expected her to sit on the floor. Affronted by this, she commanded one of her male attendants to go on all fours & she sat on him instead.
The Portuguese, who was seated, expected her to sit on the floor. Affronted by this, she commanded one of her male attendants to go on all fours & she sat on him instead.
This was when European women were still banished to the kitchen and not allowed to speak in the presence of men.
African women have always had pride of place in our societies. Resilient, powerful and many times wielded more power than their male counterparts.
African women have always had pride of place in our societies. Resilient, powerful and many times wielded more power than their male counterparts.
After Nzinga died, the Congo people once again disintegrated into a panoply of warring factions, with the Portuguese playing them against each other.
Then arose another noble woman, Kimpa Vita. She had her own Christian movement and was regarded as a prophetess by her followers.
Then arose another noble woman, Kimpa Vita. She had her own Christian movement and was regarded as a prophetess by her followers.
She was bitterly against slavery (the Portuguese had by this time, established the trans Atlantic slave route from Central Africa). She led a revolt against the Portuguese, claiming she got a vision from St Anthony of Padua. She set out to reunite and re-establish the Kongo.
She sacrificed her life for the Kongo as she wound up being burned alive in 1706, I think.
After her death, the Kongo was reduced to decentralized trading villages.
Why isn’t all these taught to students? How come most of us can’t recite these things off heart?
After her death, the Kongo was reduced to decentralized trading villages.
Why isn’t all these taught to students? How come most of us can’t recite these things off heart?
Why are we made to believe that our women were servile robots, relegated to the kitchen when a little prod into history tells a whole different story?
When women were not allowed to sit on thrones in Europe, our women were organizing empires and leading armies!
When women were not allowed to sit on thrones in Europe, our women were organizing empires and leading armies!
When Europe was not even a thing, Nerfiti wielded enormous power and moved capitals and heralded reforms in Egypt.
When European women were not allowed to sit or speak in the presence of men, Yaa Asentewa sat on the Golden stool of the Ashanti.
When European women were not allowed to sit or speak in the presence of men, Yaa Asentewa sat on the Golden stool of the Ashanti.
“You can measure the degree of a country’s revolutionary awareness by the political maturity of its women”- Kwame Nkrumah.
I daresay that Africa would never be great until it’s women propel it toward its grandiose destiny.
I daresay that Africa would never be great until it’s women propel it toward its grandiose destiny.
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