In the early 1600s, as the Portuguese were expanding their control into Central Africa, they encountered a powerful and intelligent opponent — Queen Nzinga Mbande of Ndongo and later Matamba, in present-day Angola.
Nzinga was not just a queen; she was a diplomat, a strategist, and a fearless warrior. When her brother, the king of Ndongo, struggled to resist Portuguese invasion and slave raids, Nzinga stepped up. She went to negotiate peace — and during the meeting, the Portuguese refused to offer her a chair. Instead of standing like a servant, she calmly ordered one of her assistants to kneel so she could sit on his back, eye to eye with the Portuguese governor.
But peace didn’t last. After her brother died (some say by her hands), Nzinga became queen — even though women were not traditionally allowed to rule. She refused to submit. She formed alliances with neighboring tribes and even converted to Christianity to strengthen her political position.
For over 30 years, Nzinga fought the Portuguese with guerrilla tactics, striking their forts, freeing slaves, and protecting her people. She ruled until she was in her 80s, dying peacefully in 1663 — undefeated.
Even after her death, the Portuguese struggled to control the region. Nzinga’s legacy lives on in Angola as a national hero — a woman who stood up to an empire.
The Story Of Queen Nzinga – The Warrior Queen Of Ndongo And Matamba ( Angola )
