|
|
 |
1623-63 Queen Nzinga M'Bandi of N'Dongo and
Matamba
(Angola and
Congo)
1623-26 Governor of Luanda for the Portuguese |
|
Also Known as Pande Doña Ana I. Souza or Jinga, she assigned women important government
offices. Constantly driven east by the Portuguese, Nzinga organized a
powerful guerrilla army, conquered the Matamba, and developed
alliances to control the slave routes. She even allied with the Dutch,
who helped her stop the Portuguese advancement. After a series of
decisive setbacks, Nzinga negotiated a peace treaty with the
Portuguese, but still refused to pay tribute to the Portuguese king.
Two of her war leaders were reputedly her sisters, her council of
advisors contained many women, among others her sisters, Princess Grace Kifunji and Mukumbu, the later Queen Barbara, and women were called to serve in her
army. She was daughter of N'Gola Kiluanzi Kia Samba and succeeded her
brother.
Lived (1581-1663). |
|
|
1623-47 Member of the Council of Government Princess Grace
of Matamba and Ndongo (Angola and Congo)
|
|
Before her christening she was named Kifunji, and together with her sister
Mukambu, she was
closest aide and members of the government of their sister, Queen Nzinga. Also an important religious leader. In October 1647 she was drowned by the enemy as they retreated. She lived (1587-1647) |
|
Ca.
1630-ca. 60 Queen Nana Yita of Nsuta (Ghana) |
| Succeeded
Queen Nana Ikuro and
succeeded by son Nana Dansu Abeo. In 1701 it was one of the founding states of the Asante
Confederation. |
|
Ca.
1630 Queen Nana Aberewa Ampen of Juaben (Ghana) |
| Succeeded
by son, Nana Ampomben
Afera. |
 |
1652-1697
Sultan Fatimah of
North Zanzibar (Tanzania) |
| Succeeded
Sultan Bakiri,
her brother, who had been sultan of the whole island. In 1652
Sultan ibn Seif of Oman drove her off the island, but for the
next forty years, the Portuguese continued to maintain the upper
hand and she was soon able to return to Zanzibar. In 1697 the
Arabs captured Zanzibar and took her prisoner, deporting to her
Muscat. After 10 years she was allowed to return, but her island
remained under Arab control. |
 |
1661-67
Ret Abudok nya Bwoc of Shilluk (Sudan) |
| The Shilluks have a divine
king who symbolizes the whole realm, and they created life sized representations of their
first king, Nyikang. They also made clay pipe bowls, hyena
figurines, and masks. The
Shilluk are agriculturalists and herdsmen. They raise cattle,
sheep, and goats. The men hunt, herd the animals, and milk the
livestock. Both sexes take part in the agricultural work. Historically they were
unified under one King or Reth chosen from the sons of previous
kings. Abudok
was the only female ruler of the people. |
|
|
1663-66 Queen Regnant Barbara of
N'dongo and Matamba (Congo and Angola) |
|
When her sister, Queen Nijinga, became Queen in 1623, she was appinted as Member of the Council of Government. Before her christening, she had been named
Mukumbu (Mukambu, Makumba). Her sister
had tried to marry her off to
her close ally,
João Guterres, but the Portugese protested since
he was already married. Her reign was marked by civil war and she was killed by forces loyal to
the general Njinga Mona.
João succeeded 1669-70 but was also killed. She lived (1584-1663). |
|
|
1681-1721 Queen Verónica I
Guterres Kangala Kingwanda of N'Dongo
and Matamba (Angola and Congo) |
|
Also known as Cangala Quinguanda, she
was daughter of King João Guterres Ngola Kanini I. Her brother was
killed during a battle
that Matamba won against the Portuguese. Nevertheless she decided to treat for peace,
signing the agreement with Portugal in 1683. But in 1689 she attacked
the Portuguese in Cahenda in the Dembos Region, which was disputed between Ndongo, Kongo,
and Portugal. Around 1701, Luca da Caltanisetta, the prefect of the
Capuchin mission in Angola wrote to her asking to re-establish the
mission which had fallen vacant, but she answered by expressing her concern
that "it pained her to see her children die without baptism" but that
she was "disgusted with the whites, and she would "not see any of them
in her court with the missionaries." She sought once again to expand
the kingdom into Portuguese domains in 1706, and it was probably for
this reason that she had ambassadors in the court of Kongo's King
Pedro IV that year. But her attempts to do this were thwarted, as
Portuguese forces were too strong and she abandoned the attempt.
Nevertheless, a state of constant low level conflcit between her army
and the Portuguese at Ambaca and Cahenda led to the virtual
depopulation of the country to the west of Matamba, as the people
either fled or were captured and deported to the Americas. Those
captured by the Portuguese tended to be sent to Brazil, those captured
by her were often sold to Vili merchants, based in the Kingdom of
Loango to the north, and subsequently sold to English, Dutch, or
French merchants who frequented that coast. She was succeeded by her
son, Afonso I Álvares de Pontes.
She (d. 1721). |
 |
1684-1706
Religious Leader and Prophet Dona Beatriz Kimpa
Vita in Congo |
| Portuguese
forces had defeated the Kongo, the Christianity of Afonso I had
fallen into syncretism, a mix of Christian and African
traditional religions, and three ruling families contended for
power. Into this political and cultural vacuum a number of
messianic prophets arose to proclaim their socioreligious
visions. The most important of these was Kimpa Vita, a young
girl who believed herself possessed by the spirit of St. Anthony
of Padua, a popular Catholic saint and miracle worker. She began
preaching in the Kongolese city of San Salvador, which she said
God wished restored as the capital. Her call to unity drew
strong support among the peasants, who flocked to the city,
which Kimpa identified as the biblical Bethlehem. She told her
followers that Jesus, Mary and other Christian saints were
really Kongolese. Kimpa
conspired with the general of Pedro IV, one of the contenders
for the throne, but she was captured. Both Kimpa and her baby -
conceived by her "guardian angel" - were burned at the
stake for heresy, at the instigation of Capuchin missionaries.
The Antonian movement, which Kimpa
began, outlasted her. The Kongo king Pedro IV used it to unify
and renew his kingdom. She was
burned at the stake in 1706. |
 |
1692-? The Iyoba
of Uselu in Benin (Nigeria)
|
|
She was mother of Oreoghenen, who ruled 1689-1700. As Queen Mother she was a senior town chief. She lived in her own palace outside the capital. She did not appear in
public and did not have an official role in the political system, but she was
always "consulted" by important political decisions, and her vote was
necessary in the political decision process. As widow of the former king and
mother of the present, she was given semi-male status. She had a "wife" with the title of
Amoda, she was surrounded by
Amada, naked boys and has a whole court of officeholders. |
|
1700-ca.
1750 1st Asantehemaa Nana Nyarko Kusi Amoa of Asante
(Ghana) |
|
There are different interpretation of the role of the Queen Mother of the
Asante, but it seems that she held the important office of "ohemaa"
- the second highest political position in the state. Theoretically an Ashanti Queen
Mother was next to the king in the sense that she automatically took upon the king's
responsibilities should a condition arise which made it later for the latter to administer. She was a full member and co-President of the governing body and she took
part in all important decisions. She was de facto royal co-ordinator and possessed
traditional legitimacy in determining the right successor to the stool of the
Ashanti King. She exercised a general supervisory authority over women but did not in fact
represent the overall interest of the women.
Nyaaako was mother of king Opoku
Ware I (1720-50) and the 4th Asantahemaa
Konadu Yaadom I, who was in office (Ca.1778-1809).
|
|
Ca.
1700-40
Queen Alemba of Sambi (Angola) |
| She
reigned jointly with Ului Nonudu. Sambi or Sambu
was one of the large cluster of Ovimbundu States, which was
founded at various times from around 1600. |
|
1700s
Chieftainess Kaipkire of the Herero Tribe (Namibia) |
| She
led her people in battles against British slave traders. There are
records of Herero women fighting German soldiers as late as 1919. |
|
17../18..
The Omukama
of The Bashambo Dynasty in Mpororo (Uganda)
|
|
She was Queen Mother Regnant of the kingdom of Mpororo,
which was founded circa 1650. It covered much of the Kigezi region
of Uganda and what is now northern Rwanda. |
|
|
1703-?
The Iyoba of Uselu in Benin (Nigeria) |
|
She was mother of king Ewuakpe of Benin (1700-12). His successor
Ozuere only reigned for one year and did not appoint his mother
Iyoba of Uselu since this traditionally happened after three years
of reign by the king. |
|
1704-08
Reigning Princess Tassi Hangbe of Abomey (Benin) |
| She does
not appear in the official king's lists but it is generally agreed
that she ruled after her brother Akaba (1685-1704) and was
followed on the throne by another brother, Agaja,
and became one of Abomey (or
Dahomey)'s most important rulers, who reigned until 1740.
|
 |
Ca. 1710-ca. 60 Queen
Regnant
Asea Poku of Baule (Ashante-Brong) (Cote d'Ivoire) |
|
The Baule belong to the Akan peoples who inhabit Ghana and Côte
d'Ivoire. During the Asante rise to power the Baule Queen, Aura
Poku, was in direct competition with the Asante king. When the
Asante prevailed, the Queen led her people away to the land they
now occupy. The male descendant of Aura Poku still lives in the
palace she established. Succeeded by niece. |
 |
1724
Politically Active Empress Uelete Rufael of Ethiopia
|
| Also
known as Woizero
Walatta Rufael, she engaged in a
succession-struggle in favour of her son Susnyjos,
whose father was Dejazmatch Wolde Giyorgis,
Governor of Semien (d. 1706). She was daughter of
Emperor Iyasu the Great and sister of
Emperor Adbar Sagad II Bakaffa (1721-30). |
 |
1730-56
Regent Dowager Empress
Berhan Mugasa Mentewab of Ethiopia |
|
After the death of her husband the Emperor Bakaffa, Empress
Mentewab scrambled to ensure the succession of her underage son
Eyasu II, and had herself crowned as co-ruler to help him govern.
The Empress played a leading role during his reign, and following
his murder, in the reign of his son Eyoas I as well. After the
murder of her grandson Eyoas I, her influence decreased
considerably, but she remained a deeply respected figure. Although
she had been involved in raging disagreements with her grandson
during his life, the murder of Emperor Eyoas I on the orders of
her son-in-law, Ras Michael Sehul, horrified her, and was to cause
her life-long sorrow, she refused to return to the capital. The
Empress would live to see two more Emperors on the throne, and
officials continued to pay respectful visits to her although she
retired from political activity.
Her second husband was Gerazmatch Iyasu, with whom
she had three daughters before he was killed on the orders of her
son,
she lived (ca. 1710-73).
|
 |
1738-?
The Iyoba Ede of Uselu in Benin (Nigeria) |
| Mother
of King Eresonyen of Benin (1735-50), who
successfully fought the rebellious chiefs and restored power and
legitimacy to the Benin Monarchy. As Queen
Mother she was a senior town chief. She lived in her own palace
outside the capital. She did not appear in public and did
not have an official role in the political system, but she was
always "consulted" by important political decisions, and her vote
was necessary in the political decision process. |
|
1740-97 Kpojito Hwanjile of Abomey (Benin)
|
| Also
known as Naye Wandjele, she was the reign mate of King Tegbesu, whom she helped gain power after Agaja's death after
a civil war with the designated heir. She - and possibly a successor trough
positional succession - was actively involved in Abomey politics for at least 60
years. She was highly skilled in the supernatural, and she is believed to have
been responsible for drastically changing the religious life of the kingdom. she
enhanced the position of the king, by controlling the people via
vodun and
establishing a couple of creator gods - and they thereby set up a joint monarchy
which controlled both the spirits and the earthly sphere. In 1797 she was
involved in the murder of king Agonglo, and she was buried alive. |
|
1746
Sultan Mwana Mimi Hadiga of Patta-Pate and Witu
(Kenya) |
| There
were 4 sultans that year. Pate is an island of the coast of
Kenya. |
|
Around
1750 Queen
Kapango
of Mbunza (Namibia) |
| She
was the sister of the Uukwangali Queen Mate I. She ruled around 1750 and
settled in the Mbunza area of the Kavango. This resulted in the
establishment of the two kingdoms in the western Kavango, the
Uukwangali Kingdom and the Mbunza Kingdom. |
|
Around
1750 Hompa
Mate I of Uukwangali
(Namibia) |
|
In the Kavango, the earliest recorded Uukwangali
Queen was Mate I. She ruled around 1750. She left the Mashi area
and settled in present-day Kavango, west of Nkurenkuru in today's
Angola. Her sister, Kapango, settled in the Mbunza area of the
Kavango. This resulted in the establishment of the two kingdoms in
the western Kavango, the Uukwangali Kingdom and the Mbunza
Kingdom. The possible successor of Hompa Mate I was Queen Nankali
(between 1750 and 1775). |
|
1750-75 Hompa Nankali of Uukwangali
(Namibia) |
|
The possible successor of Mate I was Nakali. |
|
Before
1750 Queen Masamba Omubitokati of Bunyoro-Kitara (Uganda)
|
| Olimi III was
king (1710-30) and Duhaga I Cwa reigned (1731-82). |
|
Until 1750 Chieftainess Hoho of
The
Khoikhoi (South Africa) |
|
1713 a smallpox
epidemic had decimated the Khoikhoi
(previsously known as Hottentot) and in 1750 she was
defeated by the Xhosa, and the tribe was assimilated into
the Xhosa, and the only trace of them today is the klick-sound
in the Xhosa language.
|
 |
Ca.
1750-60 Queen Awura Danse Poukou of Baule (The Ivory
Coast) |
|
She succeeded Asak Poku, who reigned from the beginning of the century, and
was succeeded by a niece, whose name is not known. |
 |
1750-...
2nd Asantehemaa Nana Nkatia Ntem Abamoo of Asante
(Ghana) |
| As Asantehemaa,
or Queen mother, during the reign of king Kusi Obodom (1750-64), she was a full member and co-President of the governing body and she took
part in all important decisions. She was de facto royal co-ordinator and possessed
traditional legitimacy in determining the right successor to the stool of the
Ashanti King. She exercised a general supervisory authority over women but did not in fact
represent the overall interest of the women. Nana
Nkatia was succeeded by Kaua
Afriye at a not known time. |
 |
Ca. 1752-? Iyoba Ohagha II of Uselu
in Benin (Nigeria) |
|
Mother of Akengbua of Benin (1750-1804). As Queen Mother she was a senior town chief. She lived in her own palace outside the capital. She did not appear in
public and did not have an official role in the political system, but she was
always "consulted" by important political decisions, and her vote was
necessary in the political decision process. As widow of the former king and
mother of the present, she was given semi-male status. She had a "wife" with the title of
Amoda, she was surrounded by
Amada, naked boys and has a whole court of officeholders. |
 |
From
1760 Queen of Baule (Ashanti-Brong) (Cote d'Ivoire) |
| She succeeded
her aunt,
Awura Danse Poukou. Since then the kingdom have been ruled by
kings, who inherit their position along matrilineal lines.
There are various subchiefs in charge of the kings' local
populations, and all the chiefs rely on political advisors who
help in the decision making process. |
|
Until
1768 The Queen Regnant of Kongo (N'Dongo and Matamba or Ngola
and Mbundu) (Angola and Congo) |
| She was
killed in 1768 and followed on the throne by another woman, whose name is also
unknown. |
|
1768... The Queen Regnant of Kongo (N'Dongo and Matamba or Ngola
and Mbundu) (Angola and Congo) |
| Her
predecessor was killed. |
|
1770-93 Denkyirahene Amoako
Atta Yiadom of Denkyira
(Ghana) |
|
Reigned after Amoako Atta Kuma (1725-70). The state was founded
in 1500 under the name of Agona, but was renamed in 1620. In
1701 it was defeated by the Asante and became a tributary
kingdom. |
 |
1774-89 Kpojito Chai of Abomey (Benin)
|
|
Reign mate of King Kpengla, she is not known to have been a priestess, but the
aim of her office was to
serve as compliment to
the king and in some aspects as his double, not the least in the spiritual world.
|
|
Around 1775-85
Queen Nankali of Uukwangali (Angola - Namibia) |
| During her reign
friction developed with the neighboring communities and the Kwangali moved from
Makuzu to Sihangu (near Mukukuta). Succeeded by Queen Simbara, during whose reign
the Kwangali group moved down to Namibia. |
|
1777-78
Regent The Asantehemaa Nana Akua Afriyie of Asante (Ghana)
|
| It
is not exactly known when she took office as Asantehemaa as
successor of Nana Nketia Ntem Abamoo. She was mother of King Osei Kwadwo
(Around 1764-77) and of three daughters. The oldest, Akyamaa
was the mother of king Osei Kwame (Around 1777-98) and the 6th
Asantehemaa. The second daughter, Sewaa Okuwa was mother of the 5th
Asantehemaa.
Akua Afriye
was succeeded by the third daughter, Konadu Yaadom I as the 4th
Asantehemaa. |
|
Ca.1778-1809
4th Asantehemaa Nana Kwaadu Yiadom I of Asante (Ghana)
|
|
Succeeded
mother, Akua Afriye as Queen Mother and was mother of four
kings;Osei Kwame, Opoku Fofie,
(1798-1801), Osei Bonsu (1801-24) and Osei Yaw Akoto (1824-33) and of
two Asantehemaas, Nana Ama Serwaa and Yaa Dufie. She lived (1752-1809)
. |
|
1782
Chief Ntsusa of the amaRharhabe (South Africa) |
| She was
daughter of the Xhosa Chief Rharhabe, who was killed in battle
against the Thembu tribe together with his son. Ntsusa's nephews
were both underage, and she was appointed chief by the Xhosa
king, while the court quarreled over who should be chief. A
clan with many chiefs had developed under her tutelage, but was
accused of theft of some Boer military horses, and therefore a
commando group was sent out against the clan, which had been
named Ntsusa after her. She (d. 1826). |
|
1789-97 Kpojito Senume of Abomey (Benin)
|
|
Reign mate of King Agonglo. During his reign a new the cult of the Christian God
was placed alongside the old gods, and a female relative of one of his wifes, Sophie (Afro-Dutch
woman) was placed in charge of this new vodun -or faith.
|
 |
Around
1790 Queen Logenge of Bimba (Cameroon) |
| Her
husband, King Kwa of Duala, was co-regent of
the Kingdom Bimba until 1792. |
|
1797-1818 Kpojito Kentobasin of Abomey (Benin)
|
|
Reign mate of King Adandozan. The Kpojito were not Queen Mothers, but they were
elected/appointed by the kings after they ascended to the throne, and were seen
as complimentary powers to that of the king. |
|
1800-54
Rain Queen Modjadji I of Balobedu (South Africa) |
|
Chief Mugodo
was warned by the ancestral spirits of a plot by his sons to
overthrow him. To fulfill the desires of the spirits he
had all his sons killed and told his daughter that according to
the wishes of the sprits he must marry her on his death.
By doing this he ensured that the new heir to his throne would
be a Queen and thus a new dynasty of woman was founded. When the
new Queen gave birth to a son that was fathered by her own
father, he was strangled at birth. Her second child was a
girl, and she signaled the start of the female dynasty. This was
the first Modjadji and ever since the Queen lives in complete
seclusion deep in the forest where she practice the age-old
secretive rituals to make rain.
She committed ritual suicide in 1855.
|
 |
1800/35-60s
Chief Games of Awa-Khoi - "The Red Nation"
(Namibia) |
|
Succeeded brother, Nanieb II, and was succeeded by nephew as chief
of the Nanas or Hottentots in
Hoachanas
-
Nanaqualand. |
|
1800-18
Queen Mate II of Uukwangali (Namibia) |
| She
succeeded Queen Simbara and was succeeded by king Siremo. |
|
Around 1800 The Omukama of Nshenyi (Uganda) |
| Her
predecessor, Rukaari, reigned from 1752, and she was succeeded by
Kabandwa at a not known time. |
 |
Around 1800 Queen Ebelejonu of Igala (Nigeria)
|
| The
Igala of old were part of an ethnic community known as Igala-Mela
based in Nigeria. This clan primarily consisted of the Hausa,
Igbo, Nupe and Igbira peoples. The Igala were mainly ruled by
their ata or king traditionally named Ayeba. |
|
18...
Queen Mother MmaMane of baTlôkwa (South Africa) |
|
In the early 1800s she fought to preserve her tribal lands during
the wars between Shaka Zulu and Matiwane. She was succeeded by Kgôsi Mokotjo, who reigned until 1817. |
|
18..
Sheha Fatima bint Ali
of Tumbatu (Tanzania) |
|
Sheha is a version of Sheik. She succeeded her father. |
|
18…
Chief Mashina of Mamba (Tanzania) |
|
Widow of chief Mafaluke and succeeded chief Malamba. |
|
18..
Chief Malamba of Mamba (Tanzania) |
|
Succeeded Chief Mashina
. |
|
18..
Chief Mamka of Kibosho (Tanzania) |
| The
chiefdom is situated near Kilimanjaro. |
|
18… Queen (Askaya) Adama Yahimonzon of Kokoro (Niger) |
|
Succeeded by Queen Kodyo. |
|
18… Queen
(Askaya) Kodyo Yahimonzon of Kokoro (Niger) |
|
Succeeded Queen Adama. Her successor ruled until 1899.
|
 |
18…
Queen Tembo of Cokwe (Angola) |
|
The principality is situated in the North Eastern part of Angola
on the boarder to Congo.
|
|
18.. Leader
Princess
Mukaya of the Luba People (Congo-Brazzaville) |
|
She
led her warriors in battle against enemy tribes and rival factions towards
the end of the 19th century. Initially she fought alongside her brother
Kasongo Kalambo, after he was killed in battle she assumed sole control of
the empire stretched along the rain forest from Zaire to northern Zambia. |
|
|
1807-? The Iyoba of
Uselu in Benin (Nigeria)
|
|
Mother of Obanosa of Benin (1804-16), his successor Ogbebo reigned
for less than a year. As Queen Mother she was a senior town
chief. She lived in her own palace outside the capital. She
did not appear in public and did not have an official role in the
political system, but she was always "consulted" by important
political decisions, and her vote was necessary in the political
decision process. As widow of the former king and mother of the
present, she was given semi-male status. She had a "wife" with the
title of Amoda, she was surrounded by Amada, naked boys and has a
whole court of officeholders. |
 |
1809-ca. 19 5th Asantehemaa Nana Adoma Akosua of Asante
(Ghana)
1814 Regent |
| As Asantehemaa,
or Queen mother, during the reign of Osei Tutu Kwame Asiba (1804-24),
she was
left in charge of the government while the king went to the coast to visit
his troops on the battlefield there. In the period, Adoma Akosua received
a Dutch embassy with which she discussed trade.
Succeeded on the post by cousin, Ama Sewaa, and lived (1765-1819). |
|
1815-16
The Ndlovukati Lakubheka Mndzebele of Swaziland |
|
The Queen Mother was the widow of Ndvungunye (1780-1815) and after
his death she adopted Sobhuza I and named him king. She then
became Joint Head of State. |
 |
1815-27 Queen Mother Ndlorukazi Nandi of the Zulu Kingdom
(South Africa) |
| Mother
of Shaka Zulu. At some point they were forced into exile, but she
managed to maintain her son's position. |
 |
Ca.
1816-?
Iyoba Omozogie of Uselu in Benin (Nigeria) |
|
Mother of Osemwede of Benin (1815-48). She is said to have been
very wealthy and to have assisted her son's conquests of outlying
areas. |
|
1817-24
Queen Mother Monyale a Mothaba of baTlôkwa (South Africa) |
| She was
later called MmaNtatise Sia Mosayane and was succeeded by king
Sekonyela a Mokotjo. |
|
1817-26
The 24th
Okyehene and the Ohemaa Nana
Afia Dokuaa of Okyeman
(Akyem
Abuakwa)
(Ghana) |
|
The first and only woman to hold the office
of ruler as well as that
of
Ohemaa (Queenmother)
in the
history of Akyem Abuakwa, and ascended the Ofori stool in 1817 in
lieu of a male heir to her uncle, Kofi Asante (1811-1816). She
maintained the tradition of resistance to Asante overlordship and
joined an anti-Asante alliance of coastal chiefs and the British
Administration on the coast. She personally fought at the head of
the Akyem Abuakwa contingent at the battle of Katamanso in 1826.
It was the allied victory at Datamanso and the ensuing Treaty of
1831 that liberated Akyem Abuakwa and the Southern states from
Asante claims to suzerainty over them. Nana Dokua was also a first
class administrator. She set up towns and villages into the
present divisions for the purposes of war and administration, as
well as preventing break-ups or revolts in her kingdom. She
married Barima Twum Ampofo of the Oyoko clan of Barekeseso in
Ashanti, whom she made the Asiakwahene. She had two male twins,
who successively became kings after her death. |
|
 |
1818-58 Kpojito Agontime of Abomey (Benin)
|
|
Reign mate of King Gezo
(1818-58). She had been involved in the coup d'etat against king Agonglo
in 1797 and was sold as a slave overseas. according to tradition that
she established a number of Abomeyan deities in the new world. Tradition
also relates that Gezo sent a delegation to Brazil to locate her and
bring her back home.
|
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1818-92 Chief Political Advisor
Mariam of Kano (Nigeria)
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She was the most trusted
advisor of her husband, Emir Ibrahim (1818-46) and his successor
Muhammad Bello (1883-92). According to Kano tradition her title was
"Emir's wife" and her full name was Mariam bint Shehu Usman'dan Fodio.
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Ca. 1819-24/33 6th Asantehemaa Nana Ama Sewaa of Asante
(Ghana) |
| As Asantehemaa,
or Queen mother, during the reigns of Osei Tutu Kwame Asiba (1804-24) and
perhaps also trough that of Osei Yaw Akoto ( 1824-34), she acted as
counsel, political acumen, historical perspective, and detailed knowledge
of royal genealogy. She also helped to maintain the delicate balance of
power between the elite and the powerful chiefs of the federated states.
She was mother of King Nana Kwaku Dua I and Asanthemaa Nana Afia Sarpong,
and lived (1763-1824/33).
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1824/33-1835
7th Asantehemaa
Yaa Dufie of Asante (Ghana) |
| She was Queen
mother, during the reigns of Osei Yaw Akoto (1824-34), and Kwaku Dua I
Panyin (ca. 1797-1834-67). She was succeeded on the post by her cousin,
Nana Afia Sarpong, and lived (1770-1835).
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1826-40
Queen Fatima Brima Kama Alikali of Konya-Teme
(Sierra Leone) |
| She succeeded
Alikali Kunia Banna (Jack Coby) and was succeeded by
Moribu Kindo, who ruled as Alikali (King or Monarch) until 1853. |
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1828-43-?
Chief Mali I of Khaha (South Africa) |
| After she became
chief, she modeled the state after the President set by the rain-Queen
of Lovedu, who remained unwed. Mali was succeeded by son. |
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1828-1861
Queen Ranavalona I Rabodoandrianampoinimerina (Ramavo) of
Madagascar |
| Also
known
as Ranavalo-Manjka I or Ranavalona I. She was married when she
was almost a child to Radama, king of the "Hovas" and
was accused of poisoning her husband in agreement with the protestant
English missionaries. Radama left
no descendants so English missionaries made their way to help
her to gain the throne. After she became Queen, Ranavalona soon
had most of her family relatives assassinated, she expelled
foreigners and extended her rule all over the
Island, with her 20.000 men Army. She died hated home and
outside. She had
her lover Rainitaiarivoy (1828-96) named Prime Minister.
She was mother of King Radama II, and lived (1782/92-1861). |
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1828-29
Regent Princess Oantitsy of Boina (Madagascar)
1838-36 Queen Regnant |
| Andriantsoly
was king (1822-32) until he was deposed and permently replaced
by her. She was succeded by Queen Tsiomeko. |
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Around
1828 Chief Sheha Mwana wa Mwana of Tumbai (North Zanzibar) |
| Also
known as Khadija bint Nwale, she succeeded father as Sheik of the state in North Zanzibar.
Married
to Hassan II of Zanzibarwho
reigned before 1828 until 1845. Her successor reigned until 1856. |
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1831-40
Regent Princess Menem Leben Amande of Yejje (Ethiopia) |
| For
son Ras Ali Aula. In 1840 she married Yohannes II and became
Empress of Ethiopia. She must have become very powerful, because
in 1842 he launched a rebellion against her. Menem was beaten by
Melenik II in 1847.
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1831 Head of Diplomatic Missions
Akyaawaa
Oyiakwan for Asante (Ghana)
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| She was
a daughter of the Asantehene Osei Kwadwo (1764-77), and headed two different diplomatic missions that successfully
negotiated the Maclean Treaty in April 1831 with the British and
with the Danes at Christiansborg Castle in August of the same
year. (b. ca. 1774). |
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Around 1834 Regent Queen Mother Bobjwale of BaNgwato
Until 1842 Ruler of the Chobe-Hwange Area (Botswana) |
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Second wife of Kgosi Kgari who was killed in a battle against the BaKalanga-BaNyayi at Matopos, she was appointed regent in the political vacuum following the death of her son, Khama II. Kgosi Kgari's other son, Sekgoma I broke away with a
strong following, refusing to recognize her reign. Her
forces was defeated in the following civil war. Most of the tribe then defected to Sekgoma I, forcing her to flee with her children and a small following to the BaKwena state
where Sechele welcomed them. Subsequently, Sechele married her daughter,
Mokgokong. Other sources indicate that later, Bobjwale with her supports moved
to the Chobe-Hwange region where it is said that she ruled the scattered pockets
of subordinate groups under BaNgwato rule until 1842. |
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1834.... Regent Dowager Sultana Guisti Fatima of Harrar (Ethiopia) |
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After the death of her husband, Amir
'Abu Bakar II ibn 'Abdu'l Munan, who had succeeded
her father r 'Abdu'l Karim as Amir
of Harrar in 1829, she was regent for her son,
Amir Ahmad III ibn 'Abu Bakar (1834-52). |
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1835 Regent
Queen Mother Muranthatisi of the Sotho (Lesotho) |
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For son. She lived (Ca. 1781-1835). |
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1835-1859
8th Asantehemaa Nana Afia Sapong of Asante (Ghana) |
| The
daughter
of king Osei Kwame (Around 1777-98), she was the second Queen Mother
during the reign of Kwaku
Dua I Panyin (ca. 1797-1834-67), and was succeeded
as Asantehemaa by her only child, Aufa Kobi Serwaa Ampen
I, who was in office (1859-1884). Afia Sapon lived (1790-1859).
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1836-40 Reigning The Ndlovukati Lojiba Simelane of Swaziland |
| The
Queen Mother
was widow of Sobhuza I (1816-36) and in 1840 she named Mswati
II as king and became
Joint Head of State. |
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1836-40
Queen Regant Tsiomeko
of Boina (Madagascar) |
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In 1839 she sought refuge in Nosy, which was
part the Sakalava kingdom of Boina, during the time of
the domination of the Merina (Madagascar). Tsiomeko then requested protection from France and
the following year, the Admiral de Hell and the Sakalava Kings signed a
protectorate. The Kingdom was incorporated into Madagascar
in 1840. She (d. 1843)
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1838-48
The Dwabenhene Ama Sewa of Dwaben (Dwabehene or Dwabeii) (Ghana)
1843-48
Reigning Dwabenhemaa
and Dwabenhene |
| She took
over as chief and led her people back to Asante from exile in
Akyem Abuakwa in the south east of the Gold Coast after the
death of her two sons in succession. Indeed, her daughter, Nana
Afrakoma Panin and her granddaughter Nana Akua Saponmaa both
held the dual offices of Dwabenhemaa and Dwabenhene (Queen
Mother and King) concurrently. |
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Before
1840 Ras Zmama Worq of Shawa, Menz etc. (Ethiopia) |
| Her son
Ras Shale Selassie married Ras Bezebesh of Marra Biet in 1840. |
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1840-47
Politically Influential
Empress Menen of Ethiopia
1840-47
Ruler of The Provinces North and West
of the Tana Lake (Ethiopia) |
| Also
known as Manam Liben-Amdie,
she helped bring her husband, Emperor Yohannes
III, on the throne. He ruled 1840-41, 1845 and 1850-51 and was
deposed by rival fractions. In 1845 Lij Kassa
Hailu rebelled against her and her son Ras
Ali II, who held the office of Viceroy, he invaded and pillaged Dembiya in
October 1846, conquered Gondar in January 1847, defeated and
captured her in June 1847 but released her again in August. She
was the widow of Ras Alula Gugsa, Governor of
Gojjam, and daughter of Imam Liban Amade Kolase, chief of the
Wollo of Warra Himenu, and lived (ca. 1800-50s). |
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Ca.
1840-51 Governor MaMotshiame of the Central Province of the Bulozi Kingdom (Zambia)
1851-58
Makololo Morêna of Bulozi (or Barotseland) |
| Her
father, king Sebutuabe, appointed her as governor of a central
province. On his deathbed, he appointed her as his successor.
She later abdicated in favour of brother, Sekeletu. She died (1888). |
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Ca. 1842-48
Exile-Leader Mawa of Zulu Political Refugees (South Africa) |
| During
the reigns of her two nephews Shaka (ca. 1815-28) and Dingane
(1828-40) she served as liaison in a British military town. In
1840 another nephew ousted Dingane and, in ca. 1842, had his
brother assassinated. Mawa fled with several thousand followers
to Natal, where she gathered additional supporters and eventually
negotiated a treaty with the new British administration to
settle permanently in Natal. She (d. 1848). |
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1844-93 Chief Mugalula I of Kiwele
(Tanzania) |
| Succeeded
her father, Nyungu-ya-Mawe, who had
originally designated his sister’s son, Nzwala, as his
successor, but he predeceased him. She committed suicide and was
succeeded by Nzwala’s daughter Msavila. According to some
sources she was Sultan Mugalula of Nyamwezi in 1893 – but
Nyamwezi was the name of the ruling dynasty in Kiwele. |
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From
1848 Reigning Dwabenhemaa
and Dwabenhene Nana
Afrakoma Panin of Dwaben (Dwabehene or Dwabeii) (Ghana) |
| Succeeded
mother, Ama Sewa,
and was succeeded by daughter, Nana Akua Saponmaa, as holder of the dual offices
of Dwabenhemaa and Dwabenhene (Queen Mother and King). |
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After
1848 Reigning Dwabenhemaa
and Dwabenhene Nana Akua Saponmaa
of Dwaben (Dwabehene or Dwabeii) (Ghana) |
| Succeeded
mother, Nana Afrakoma Panin,
at a not known time. |
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1851
Army Leader Seh-Dong-Hong-Beh in Abomey (Benin) |
| She
was leader of the ”Amazons” under King Gezo, and led an army of
6.000 women against the Egba fortress of Abeokuta. Because the Amazons
were armed with spears, bows and swords while the Egba had European
cannons only about 1,200 survived the extended battle. In 1892 King
Behanzin of Dahomey (now Benin) was at war with the French colonists
over trading rights. He led his army of 12,000 troops, including 2.000
Amazons into battle. Despite the fact that the Dahomey army was armed
only with rifles while the French had machine guns and cannons, the
Amazons attacked when the French troops attempted a river crossing,
inflicting heavy casualties. They engaged in hand to hand combat with
the survivors eventually forcing the French army to retreat, but was
later defeated, and the Amazons burned fields, villages and cities
rather than let them fall to the French. |
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1851-? The Iyoba
of Uselu in Benin (Nigeria) |
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Mother of Adolo of Benin
(1848-88). As Queen Mother she was a senior town chief. She lived
in her own palace outside the capital. She did not appear in
public and did not have an official role in the political system, but
she was always "consulted" by important political decisions,
and her vote was necessary in the political decision process. As widow
of the former king and mother of the present, she was given semi-male
status. She had a "wife" with the title of Amoda, she was
surrounded by Amada, naked boys and has a whole court of officeholders. |
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Until
1853 Sultan Mwana Mwema of Zanzibar (Tanzania) |
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Followed on the throne
by Sultan Yusuf. |
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1854-55
Regent Queen Mother Muganzirwazza of Buganda (Uganda) |
| She
was regent for son, Mukaabya Mutesa I (1837-56-84), and a powerful
political force after he came of age. She lived (1817-82). |
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1855-94
Rain Queen Modjadji II
of Balobedu (South Africa) |
| She
succeeded her mother Modjadji I. Like her mother she never married the
father of her children, though she had a number of wifes, who were
given to her as tribute, and who were then handed out to chiefs of the
tribe. The Queen was practically inaccessible to her people, appearing
only very seldom in public, and had the mystical power to transform
clouds into rain. She committed ritual suicide in 1894 after having
designated the daughter of her "sister" and great wife, Leakkali as her heir.
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Ca.
1855-ca. 1910 Queen
Natélégé of the Mzalara (Central African Republic)
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| The
first woman of her people to be acclaimed Chief in her own right. |
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Before
1855-after 1868 Duchess Uerkit of the Oromo Tribe
(Ethiopia) |
| Her tribe lives in
the Province of Uello. |
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1858-89 Kpojito Zoïndi of Abomey (Benin)
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Reign mate of her son, King Gélé, who had won a succession-struggle prince
Wensu who had been supported by one of the highest-ranking women in court, the
Tononu Yavedo. As mother of the heir she had lived in seclusion and was
therefore out of touch with the situation at court, and therefore her political influence was small, and actually her brother became Gélé's closest advisor. |
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1859-84
Asantehemaa Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampen
I of Asante (Ghana) |
| As Asantehemaa,
or Queen mother, during the reigns of the kings Kwaku Dua I Panyin
(1834-67), Kofi Kakari (1867-84), Mensa Bonsu Kumaa (1874-83) and Kwaku
Dua II Kumaa (1884), she was a full member and co-President of the
governing body and she took part in all important decisions. The de
facto royal co-ordinator and possessed traditional legitimacy in
determining the right successor to the stool of the Ashanti King. She
mother of the kings Nana Kofi Kaakari and Nana Mensa Bonsu, and was
succeeded on the post by daughter Yaa Akyeaa. She lived (1765-1819). |
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1862
17th Queen Nakashwa of Ongandjera (Ouambo) (Namibia) |
| She
was head of one of the country's northern tribes. |
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1863-68
HM Rasoherina, by the grace of God and the will of the people,
Queen of Madagascar |
| Born
as Rabodozanakandriana, and also known as Rasoaherina or Rabuda,
she was married to King Radama II (1861-63) and when he died in 1863 she
became Queen of Madagascar. She married again to minister
Rainitaiarivoy, who took control of politics and was named her Prime
Minister. In 1865 Rasoaherina signed a Commercial Treaty with the
British that ensured the influence of English. She lived (1829-68). |
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1868-83
Queen Ranavalona II, by the grace of God and the will of the
people, Queen of Madagascar, and Protectrice of the laws of the Nation |
| Born
as Ramoma, she was also known as Ranavalo Manjaka II after she followed
Queen Rasoaherina on the throne. She married to Rainitaiarivoy who she
named her Prime Minister. After being crowned she allowed Christianity
in her States, and got baptized in 1869. She abolished slavery. Under
her rule the British were really influential. In 1883 French commodore
Pierre was sent to Madagascar because of a commercial matter and took Majunga post and bombarded Tamatave. |
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1868-75
Reigning Queen Mother The Ndlovukati Thandile Ndwandwe I
Nxumalo of Swaziland
After 1875
Joint Head of State |
| She was widow of
King Mswati (1840-68) and until 1875 she reigned in the name of Ludvonga
II, who afterwards became king, and she took over as joint head of
state. |
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1868-76
Regent Dowager Queen Warqito Mastawat of Walo
(Ethiopia) |
| She was mother
of the young Imam Amede Beshir, one of the two claimants to the
leadership of the Weresek (Mammadoch) clan of Wollo. Emperor Tewodros
had seized Amede Beshir, had him baptized as his godson, and had fought
the mother of the other claimant, the rival Queen Mestawat. Although
bitter rivals, both Mestawat and Werqitu were foes of the Emperor.
Werqitu was not initially eager to help the Shewan prince even though
his father had been a close ally. She initially decided to send
emissaries to the Emperor to inform him that the Shewans were in her
camp, and that she would exchange them for her son. Tewodros however was
extremely furious when he found out about the escape of the Shewans. Her
son died during the siege, and her grief and anger knew no bounds. Until
the very end, she never stopped attacking Tewodros' army, and never held
back aid from anyone who rebelled against him. |
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1870s
Regent Princess Mnkabayi of the Zulu Kingdom (South Africa)
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