Queen nzinga of angola is one of the most celebrated african women to resist european colonisation. Queen nzinga s alliance with the dutch came to nothing as the portuguese drove the dutch from luanda in 1648. 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. A digital version available for download can be found on the unesco website. Nzinga mbande the warrior queen of angola afrika news. However, she was a ruthless fighter with an important military prowess who ruled ndongo and matamba angola for over 40 years. Known for being an astute diplomat and visionary military leader, she resisted portuguese invasion and slave raids for 30 years. Well, the great queen nzingha was born in angola at the end of.
Nzinga mbande began her political life as her nation of ndongo presentday angola was fighting off a portuguese invasion. Njinga as the name is spelled in kimbundu or nzinga in kikongo 15831663 was queen of ndongo and matamba, home to the mbundu. Her father was ngola kilajua, the word ngola referring to the title of the ruling chief, which later developed into the national name for the region. 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. It is but one of many strategies she employed to oust the portuguese. Queen nzingha 15831663 was a 17thcentury queen of the ndongo and matamba kingdoms of the mbundu people in what is known as angola today.
Nzinga of matamba, the seventeenthcentury african monarch known primarily for her enmity to the portuguese in angola, faced hostility from her own mbundu people and the opposition of neighbouring tribal rulers throughout her long career. She is only thirteen, but is very mature for her age. Ana nzinga mbande, fearless african queen amazing women. She was the daughter of a king, and was exposed to war and politics at an early age. Great queen of angola queen nzingha of angola today, i will be talking about another great queen of africa. Queen nzinga also spelled njinga once ruled what is now the african nation of angola. To the ndongo, this was an indication she would become a wise and proud woman. She was a political leader with a diplomatic approach and eagerness for peaceful negotiations by striking deals with the portuguese and dutch. Ndongo was declared a free country the following year. Ngola ann nzinga mbande pronounced geengah embahnday c. For forty years, queen nzinga fights to destroy the imperial colonists who seek to enslave her people.
Queen nzinga mbande lived during the period of the atlantic slave trade and the rise of portuguese traders. Queen nzingha 15831663 was a 17thcentury queen of the ndongo and matamba. Linda heywood brings us the most complete world biographical story of queen nzinga, called njinga to us all. Idealizada por duas afroempreemdedoras, brasileira e angolana, a marca tem como objetivo valorizar a cultura, beleza afrobrasileira e estreitar. Her royal title in the kimbundu language, ngola, was from ngola that the portuguese took the name for the colony of angola. Queen nzinga 2 sisters were some of her warlords and she had women in her army. Castilhon published zingha, reine dangola nzinga, queen of angola, the. Queen nzingas spirit and life provides us all with lessons in how to be a warrior. Nzinga queen of angola times favorite theater button. 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. Nzinga queen of angola times movie tickets fandango. If your plans change, its easy to refund or exchange your tickets. Queen nzinga mbande of ndongo 15831663 nzinga of matamba, the seventeenthcentury african monarch known primarily for her enmity to the portuguese in angola, faced hostility from her own mbundu people and the opposition of neighbouring tribal rulers throughout her long career. Nzingha, warrior queen of matamba, by patrick mckissasck, is just one of the many book series, in the royal diaries.
Queen nzinga decreed her kingdom to be a safe haven for runaway slaves from the europeans. Aug 21, 2014 queen nzinga mbande lived during the period of the atlantic slave trade and the rise of portuguese traders. 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. Jun 05, 2015 queen nzinga of ndongo and matamba 15831663 was an angolan queen. 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. 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.
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. 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. When the portuguese built a fort on her land, she led a. Her men fought to the death in order to spend the night with her and, after a single night of lovemaking, were put to death. This move won her admiration and followers among her people. Indeed she was, a strong, charismatic, and shrewd leader who would not acquiesce to the european colonists. The enduring power of queen njinga bostonia winter spring 2011. Nzinga queen of angola times favorite theater button overview.
She rose to power as the leader of the mbundu people in what we know today as modern day angola. In 1624, a warrior queen, nzinga, succeeded to the throne in ndongo. 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. It claims that after becoming queen, she obtained a large, all male harem at her disposal. 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 of ndongo and matamba the battle against. 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. Nzinga mbande led four decades 1620s to 1660s of warfare against the portuguese in angola. According to legend, queen nzinga or zinga, or njinga 15831663 was given her name because she was born with her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. Nzinga fearlessly and cleverly fought for the freedom of her kingdom against the portuguese using armed combat when necessary and striking up an alliance with the.
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. Around the turn of the 17th century, the independent kingdoms and. In the governors palace luanda, the portuguese courtiers whisper in shock. Queen nzinga mbande of angola was a resilient leader of the mbundu people. 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 ngola. Queen nzinga is a figure that marked the 16th century in africa.
He is sometimes called the apostle of kongo for his. She was a great leader, ruler, military strategist and strong opponent to the slave trade. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Her sex disqualified her from many mbundu political offices reserved for males, and her. Queen nzinga mbande was a ruthless and powerful 17th century african ruler of the ndongo and matamba kingdoms modernday angola. Unesco series on women in african history other lang. The enduring power of queen njinga bostonia winter.
Sent to make a treaty with the invaders, nzinga of angola is swept into world history. In 1623, the portuguese signed a peace treaty with ndongo east of luanda and populated primarily by mbundu. Today, i will be talking about another great queen of africa. 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.
Ana nzinga mbande, fearless african queen amazing women in. Portuguese slave traders were no match for angolan queen. Afonso i, original name mvemba a nzinga, also called nzinga mbemba, also spelled afonso i mvemba a nzinga, born c. During her reign of 37 years, she remained relentless and ruthless in maintaining independence from the portuguese. Jun 09, 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. Njinga mbandi 15811663, queen of ndongo and matamba, defined much of the history of seventeenthcentury angola. Queen nzinga of ndongo and matamba 15831663 was an angolan queen. He is sometimes called the apostle of kongo for his role in making kongo a christian kingdom. 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. 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. Njinga mbandi 15811663, queen of ndongo and matamba, defined much of. 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. Brilliant military strategist, charismatic leader, and a true warrior queen, all of these terms aptly describe the remarkable character of queen nzingha of angola.
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. Jan 12, 2012 queen nzinga mbande was a ruthless and powerful 17th century african ruler of the ndongo and matamba kingdoms modernday angola. Statue of njinga mbandi, luanda, republic of angola. Nzinga fearlessly and cleverly fought for the freedom and stature of her kingdoms against the portuguese, who were colonizing the area at the time. 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. In 1623 ann nzinga officially became the ngola which means king sic, and in this capacity made the regional alliances necessary to fight the portuguese. In the sixteenth century, the portuguese encountered the brilliant and courageous queen nzinga, who was determined never to accept the portuguese conquest of her country, angola. Her legacy is a controversial and paradoxical one, as she was a protonationalist resistance leader, a devout christian and portuguese ally, a superb but. Africa in 1595, her only wish is to hunt with her father, before she marries. 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. African queen nzinga of angola, south africa circa 15811663 duration. 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. Born as princess nzinga among the mbundu ambundu group of the ndongo kingdom in the central west africa region now known as angola.
Jan 23, 2014 semba comunicacao premiered in luanda, in november 20, the movie njinga queen of angola. Sent to make a treaty with the invaders, nzinga of angola is swept into world history, a generation after elizabeth i ruled england. 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. With lesliana pereira, ana santos, erica chissapa, silvio nascimento. Pdf the figure of queen nzinga mbandi continues to be.
Queen nzinga biography, birth date, birth place and pictures. 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. Across the savannah and into the green mountains, people shouted her name. But njinga, who was born around 1583 and whose cinematic life.
Nzinga, daughter of the old ngola, savior of ndongo. She used her charm and tactics of compromise to fight the portuguese and their expanding slave trade in central africa. In the 17th century a warrior woman fights for the independence of angola. Oct 21, 2014 queen nzinga mbande was a ruthless and powerful 17th century african ruler of the ndongo and matamba kingdoms modernday angola. Ngola ana nzinga mbande, renowned for her strategic military tactics and political and diplomatic. Queen nzinga came to power in 1626 after the death of her brother.