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Njinga of Angola: The Warrior Queen Who Defied the Portuguese Empire

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Njinga of Angola was a remarkable warrior queen who ruled the Ndongo and Matamba kingdoms in the 17th century. She fought against the Portuguese empire for decades, using guerrilla warfare tactics and political alliances to protect her people. Njinga was a skilled diplomat and military strategist, and she is considered one of the most important figures in African history.

Njinga of Angola: Africa’s Warrior Queen

by Linda M. Heywood

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	36553 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	311 pages

Early Life

Njinga was born in 1582 in the Ndongo kingdom, which is located in what is now Angola. She was the daughter of King Kiluanji Kia Samba and Queen Nzinga a Ndambi. Njinga was a gifted student, and she was educated in the royal court. She learned about politics, warfare, and diplomacy, and she became a skilled orator.

Ascension to the Throne

In 1624, Njinga's brother, King Ngola Mbandi, died. Njinga was chosen to succeed him, and she became the queen of Ndongo. Njinga was a strong and independent ruler, and she quickly began to implement reforms to strengthen her kingdom. She centralized power, reformed the army, and created a network of alliances with neighboring kingdoms.

War with the Portuguese

The Portuguese had been trying to conquer Ndongo for decades, and Njinga's reforms only made them more determined to succeed. In 1627, the Portuguese invaded Ndongo, and Njinga was forced to flee. She took her army into the forests and waged a guerrilla war against the Portuguese. Njinga's forces used hit-and-run tactics to attack the Portuguese, and they were able to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy. The Portuguese were unable to defeat Njinga, and they eventually gave up on their attempts to conquer Ndongo.

Diplomacy and Alliances

Njinga was a skilled diplomat, and she used her skills to form alliances with neighboring kingdoms. She also sent ambassadors to Europe to seek support for her cause. Njinga's alliances helped her to maintain her independence and to continue her war against the Portuguese. In 1648, Njinga signed a peace treaty with the Portuguese, which gave her control over her kingdom. However, Njinga continued to resist Portuguese influence, and she remained a symbol of African resistance to colonialism.

Legacy

Njinga of Angola died in 1663, at the age of 81. She is considered one of the most important figures in African history. She was a skilled warrior, diplomat, and strategist, and she dedicated her life to protecting her people from Portuguese colonialism. Njinga is a symbol of African resistance, and her story continues to inspire people around the world.

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Njinga Of Angola, A Warrior Queen Who Ruled The Ndongo And Matamba Kingdoms In The 17th Century. She Is Depicted In A Traditional African Dress, Holding A Spear And A Shield. Njinga Of Angola: Africa S Warrior Queen