Queen Nzinga

Hello! My name is Nzinga Mbande, and I was a queen in Africa a long time ago. I was born around the year 1583 in the Kingdom of Ndongo, a beautiful land that is now part of a country called Angola. My father was the king, and even as a young girl, I watched him closely and learned how to lead. I also learned how to be a warrior, which was not something most girls did back then. During my childhood, strange ships started arriving on our shores. They were from a country called Portugal, and their arrival brought great changes and many challenges for my people.

When my brother Mbande became king in 1617, the troubles with the Portuguese grew much worse. They wanted to take our land and capture our people. In 1622, my brother trusted me with a very important mission: to go and meet with the Portuguese governor. When I arrived, the governor tried to make himself seem more powerful by sitting on a large, fancy chair. For me, he offered only a cushion on the floor. I refused to be looked down upon. I signaled to one of my attendants, who got down on her hands and knees to become a human chair for me. I sat on her back and looked the governor directly in the eye, showing him we were equals. That day, I successfully negotiated a peace treaty to protect my kingdom.

Sadly, the peace treaty did not last. The Portuguese broke their promises. After my brother passed away in 1624, I became the ruler of Ndongo. It was now my duty to defend my people from being captured and sold into slavery. The fight was difficult and lasted for many years. I had to lead my own army into battle to fight for our freedom. The Portuguese army was very strong, and they eventually forced me and my followers out of our capital city. But I refused to give up. I led my people to the nearby Kingdom of Matamba, which I conquered in the 1630s and made into my new stronghold.

From my new base in Matamba, I continued to rule and fight against the Portuguese for over thirty years. I was more than just a warrior; I was also a diplomat. This means I was skilled at making agreements and talking with other leaders. I made clever alliances with other local groups and even with the Dutch, who were also enemies of the Portuguese. I used every tool I had—my clever mind, my powerful words, and my strong army—to protect my kingdoms. Finally, after decades of struggle, I signed a new peace treaty with Portugal in 1656. This time, they recognized my power as a ruler and my people's right to be free.

With peace finally achieved, I spent my last years focusing on rebuilding my kingdom. I worked hard to create a safe and strong home for my people who had been through so much. I lived to be about 80 years old, passing away peacefully in my kingdom in 1663. Today, I am remembered as a symbol of resistance against injustice, a brilliant military leader, and a queen who never, ever gave up on her people. My story is told to show that courage and intelligence can be the most powerful weapons for creating a better world.