Jan 12, 2012 queen nzinga mbande was a ruthless and powerful 17th century african ruler of the ndongo and matamba kingdoms modernday angola. Aug 21, 2014 queen nzinga mbande lived during the period of the atlantic slave trade and the rise of portuguese traders. Nzinga of ndongo and matamba always have a chair for the queen. In 1624, a warrior queen, nzinga, succeeded to the throne in ndongo. The portuguese didnt consider her the legitimate queen because they believed she killed her brother. Ana nzinga mbande, fearless african queen amazing women in. In 1624, ana nzinga inherited rule of ndongo, a state to the east of luanda populated primarily by mbundu peoples. In the governors palace luanda, the portuguese courtiers whisper in shock. Unesco series on women in african history other lang. Nzinga blake born 1981, americansierra leonean actress.
Queen nzinga queen nzinga believed to be born between 1581 1583 born as princess nzinga and inherited the throne as queen in 1623 ruled the kingdom of ndongo 16231663 called angola by portuguese english and french threatened portuguese and. Anna nzinga was born the same year that the ndongo people, led by her father, ngola kiluanji kia samba, began fighting against the portuguese who were raiding their territory for slaves and attempting to conquer land they believed included silver mines. Njinga of angola seamlessly knits together the complete set of sources on the queen, which include missionary accounts, letters, colonial records, previous histories of angola and dutch west india company recordsheywood has cleared away the noise of the mostly fantastical accounts and assembled as straight a biography as is possible. Africa in 1595, her only wish is to hunt with her father, before she marries. However, she was a ruthless fighter with an important military prowess who ruled ndongo and matamba angola for over 40 years. The story goes that nzinga was so named because she was born with her mothers umbilical cord wrapped around her neck, and the mbundu word for to twist is. Jun 19, 2018 in the 17th century, presentday angola was ruled by the adept and fearless leader, queen ana nzinga of ndongo and matamba, of the amubundu people.
In 1623, the portuguese signed a peace treaty with ndongo east of luanda and populated primarily by mbundu. Apr 19, 2020 listen to the queen nzinga episode of the history chicks podcast here. Queen nzinga is the greatest abolitionist of slave trade that she herself had no slaves, and indeed had not the slightest need for any. Nzinga mbande the warrior queen of angola afrika news.
Queen nzinga mbande was a ruthless and powerful 17th century african ruler of the ndongo and matamba kingdoms modernday angola. Born into the ruling family of ndongo, nzinga demonstrated an aptitude for defusing political crises in her capacity as ambassador to the portuguese, and later assumed power over the kingdoms after the death of her brother. Nzinghas rise to power occurred during the early 17th century in the kingdom of ndongo, which is now the present day country of angola, in south west africa. Nzinga also reached out to the dutch to fight off the portuguese. She grew up in a period during which the portuguese had felt their position in the transatlantic slave trade was being threatened by increased mercantile activity from british and french. She was a political leader with a diplomatic approach and eagerness for peaceful negotiations by striking deals with the portuguese and dutch. The mbundu speak bantu languages and number about 6 million. Queen nzinga decreed her kingdom to be a safe haven for runaway slaves from the europeans. Lobito, 194855, is the most extensive example of the portuguese viewpoint. Around the turn of the 17th century, the independent kingdoms and. Nzinga fearlessly and cleverly fought for the freedom and stature of her kingdoms against the portuguese, who were colonizing the area at the time. This move won her admiration and followers among her people. Sent to make a treaty with the invaders, nzinga of angola is swept into world history.
Nzinga mbande began her political life as her nation of ndongo presentday angola was fighting off a portuguese invasion. Known for being an astute diplomat and visionary military leader, she resisted portuguese invasion and slave raids for. The dutch had lost their hold on brazil and places on the atlantic coast of africa as well as their colonies in north america and their ability to trade on the atlantic. Nzingha, warrior queen of matamba, by patrick mckissasck, is just one of the many book series, in the royal diaries. She blocked the slave routes through matamba by forming confederations with her neighbors. It is but one of many strategies she employed to oust the portuguese. Queen nzinga of ndongo and matamba the battle against. At that moment, the kingdom was under attack from both portuguese as well as neighboring african aggressors. Her royal title in the kimbundu language, ngola, was from ngola that the portuguese took the name for the colony of angola. One leader who proved to be adept at overcoming these difficulties was the queen of ndongo, ana nzinga. But first, click here to find more about the blog, my blogging journey and inspiration behind the blogs name.
A queen, a city and her people against the evil warriors she have to do whatever it takes to protect her people. After witnessing the murder of her son and watching her people being humiliated by portuguese colonizers, njinga will become a queen and struggle for their liberation embodying the motto. Dec 17, 2016 nzinga of ndongo and matamba, also known as nzinga mbandi, anna nzinga, and rainha ginga, was born in 1583 to the king of ndongo, a kingdom of the mbundu people in modernday angola. The story goes that nzinga was so named because she was born with her mothers umbilical cord wrapped around her neck, and the. Semba comunicacao premiered in luanda, in november 20, the movie njinga queen of angola. Joao i of kongo, also known as nzinga a nkuwu or nkuwu nzinga. The enduring power of queen njinga bostonia winter. Well, the great queen nzingha was born in angola at the end of the. How queen nzinga of angola fought and held off portuguese control for over 30 years top six busiest ports in africa rather than succumb to french colonialists, this african king ordered his guard. Queen nzinga mbandi was an extremely important and defining figure in the history of the kingdom of ndongo what is now modernday angola in early 17 th century africa.
Queen nzingha 15831663 was a 17thcentury queen of the ndongo and matamba kingdoms of the mbundu people in what is known as angola today. After witnessing the murder of her son and watching her people being humiliated by portuguese colonizers, njinga will become a queen and. My mission is to create content that will inspire, inform and entertain you. Nzinga article about nzinga by the free dictionary. Nzinga mbandi queen of ndongo and matamba portuguese. Her royal title in the kimbundu language, ngola, was from ngola that the portuguese took the name for the colony of angola nzinga was born to nzinga a mbande. Ana nzinga mbande, fearless african queen amazing women. Queen nzinga biography, birth date, birth place and pictures.
Queen nzinga mbande lived during the period of the atlantic slave trade and the rise of portuguese traders. Dec 11, 2016 nzinga also reached out to the dutch to fight off the portuguese. Nzinga neatly sidestepped the problem of being a queen by declaring herself king, much like hatshepsut before her in egypt. Nzinga, daughter of the old ngola, savior of ndongo. Queen nzinga posted 22 november 2016 by the history chicks just your ordinary princess to queen tale. In the 17th century, presentday angola was ruled by the adept and fearless leader, queen ana nzinga of ndongo and matamba, of the amubundu people.
Nzinga of ndongo and matamba, also known as nzinga mbandi, anna nzinga, and rainha ginga, was born in 1583 to the king of ndongo, a kingdom of the mbundu people in modernday angola. Join facebook to connect with nzinga africa and others you may know. One leader who proved to be adept at overcoming difficulties was the queen of ndongo, ana nzinga. Oct 21, 2014 queen nzinga mbande was a ruthless and powerful 17th century african ruler of the ndongo and matamba kingdoms modernday angola. An angolan film, nzinga, queen of angola portuguese. She came to power by inheriting ndongo at a time when the kingdom was under attack from both the portuguese, as well as neighbouring african aggressors. She is only thirteen, but is very mature for her age. She was a great leader, ruler, military strategist and strong opponent to the slave trade. Njinga mbandi 15811663, queen of ndongo and matamba, defined much of the history of seventeenthcentury angola. One of the great women rulers of africa, queen anna nzinga circa 15811663 of angola fought against the slave trade and european influence in the seventeenth century.
Nzingas role as leader of mbundu resistance appears, for example, in walter rodney, european activity and african reaction in angola, in terence 0. Nzinga of ndongo and matamba always have a chair for the. The europeans mercantilist designs, in particular the development of the slave trade along the southern african coast, drastically changed the political, social, economic and cultural environment of the kingdom of ndongo and the entire region. Queen nzinga is a figure that marked the 16th century in africa. She rose to power as the leader of the mbundu people in what we know today as modern day angola. The enduring power of queen njinga bostonia winter spring 2011. Portuguese slave traders were no match for angolan queen.
Dec 22, 2015 queen nzinga mbandi was an extremely important and defining figure in the history of the kingdom of ndongo what is now modernday angola in early 17 th century africa. Also issued in 20 under the code ci 20 ws12 main descriptors. Queen nzinga queen nzinga believed to be born between 1581 1583 born as princess nzinga and inherited the throne as queen in 1623 ruled the kingdom of ndongo 16231663 called angola by portuguese english and french threatened portuguese and slave trade, causing portugal to. Njinga, queen of angola 20 in 17th century angola, njinga watches the murder of her son by portuguese colonialists and leads the fight for liberation. But njinga, who was born around 1583 and whose cinematic life. Across the savannah and into the green mountains, people shouted her name.
Also known as jinga, singa, and zhinga, she led an abortive revolt against the portuguese colonial government after a falling out concerning control of the slave trade. Her brother, a byallaccounts wimp, seemingly could not bend over backwards far enough for the portuguese, and once he ascended to the throne, the portuguese just tossed him in jail and took over. Queen nzinga s alliance with the dutch came to nothing as the portuguese drove the dutch from luanda in 1648. Today, i will be talking about another great queen of africa. Posted on march 19, 2014 by cpublishingbooks standard. The author of the 2000 book contested power in angola, 1840s to the present and many studies of the african diaspora and slavery, she is deep into research about queen njinga pronounced enjing. Brilliant military strategist, charismatic leader, and a true warrior queen, all of these terms aptly describe the remarkable character of queen nzingha of angola. How queen nzinga of angola fought and held off portuguese control for over 30 years top six busiest ports in africa rather than succumb to french colonialists, this. One of the great women rulers of africa, queen anna nzinga circa 15811663 of angola fought against the slave trade and european influence in the seventeenth. She grew up in a period during which the portuguese had felt their position in the transatlantic slave trade was being threatened by increased mercantile activity from british and french forces, and thus aimed to move their.