12 Great African Women In History You Should Know.docx

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12 Great African Women In History You Should Know

As a Black man and an African historian, I have found that one of the most inspiring aspects in the annals

of humankind is the outstanding role of African women and their contributions to history. In this brief

article, we highlight and pay tribute to some of the greatest of these women.


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AHMOSE-NEFERTARI


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Queen Ahmose-Nefertari circa !"#$-!"%$ B.&.' was an active participant, along with her husband (ing

Ahmose, in the final defeat and e)ection from Africa of the hated *yksos invaders and occupiers. As such,

she was regarded as a national hero and one of the outstanding figures in African history. Indeed, she was

a co-founder of the glorious !+th dynasty of (mt called he greatest royal family that ever mounted a

throne./

Ahmose-Nefertari was born a royal heiress to the thone and became one of (mt0s most beloved and

audacious women. After her husband0s brilliant reign, she ruled the land with her son, (ing Amenhotep I.

It would not be inaccurate to say that Ahmose-Nefertari was venerated, a practice that continued for more

than 1$$ years after her death. o her memory was attached a special priesthood, who recited in her

honor a prayer only used in addressing the pantheon of the most powerful deities in the land. Ahmose-

Nefertari was titled 2od0s 3ife of Amen/ and held a position as a priestess in the national religious

center. It is interesting too that the surviving portraits of Ahmose-Nefertari are all painted Black a sign

further illustrating her great prominence.

AL-KAHINA

4ahia al-(ahina, in what is now Algeria, at the end of the seventh

century was especially active in the North African resistance to the Arab invasions of Africa. Around the

year 15$, she took personal command of the African armies. 6nder her vigilant direction and leadership,

the Arab legions were forced to retreat, regroup and reassess their strategy and tactics for the invasion of

North Africa. he Arabs were intent on occupying Africa, however, and as the military situation of the

Africans deteriorated, the determed (ahina instituted a scorched earth policy of destruction. *er posture


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was that she would rather see the destruction of the land rather than cede it to invaders. 7adly, the effects

of the devastation can still be seen today in the North African countryside.

Based on tradition, 4ahia al-(ahina eventually took her own life rather than accept defeat at the hands of

the Arabs. *er sons went on to help lead the 8oorish invasion of 7pain. But with the death of this bold

African woman ended what was perhaps the most determined and inspiring chapter in the effort to

preserve Africa for the Africans.

NZINGHA

N9ingha, also known as Ann N9ingha, is the great national figure of

precolonical Angola. he e:traordinary scholar ;ohn *enrik &larke referenced her as the greatest

military strategist that ever confronted the armed forces of


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MAKARE HATSHEPSUT

he =$-year reign of the outstanding female monarch 8akare

*atshepsut, beginning about !"$$ B.&., occurred near the pinnacle of Ancient >gypt. his time period is a

golden age in the long history of African people. It was a period marked by tremendous internal stability

and a time of great international prestige.

?ne of *atshepsut0s grandest accomplishments was a splendid e:pedition to the African land of


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8akare *atshepsut0s royal titles includedC (ing of the North and 7outh, 7on of the 7un, he *eru of 2old,

Bestower of @ears, 2oddess of isings, &onueror of all Dands, Dady of both Dands, Eivifier of @ears, &hief

7pouse of Amen, the 8ighty ?ne.

8akare *atshepsut was one of the mightiest of African women.

MAKEDA

4uring the !$th century B.&. we hear of the deeds of 8akeda a near-

legendary African woman. his ueen had the ualities of an outstanding ruler and seems to have

governed over a prosperous land encompassing parts of both >ast Africa and 7outhwest Asia. In the

Quran, she is known as Bilis, in the great epic of >thiopia called theKebra Negast, she is called 8akeda,

and in theBibleand in the popular imagination of the 3estern world she is known as the Queen of 7heba.

hese te:ts show an unmistakable image of a well-developed land characteri9ed by the elevated overall

posture of women. And 8akeda was not an isolated phenomenon. >ither their deeds or inheritance or

both enabled such Black women to stand out singularly and individually.


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TIYE

Queen iye was the beloved wife of (ing Nebmare Amenhotep III, the mother of (ing Amenhotep IE

who as Akhenaten is one of the most significant figures in all of human history' and the mother or

grandmother of utankhamenperhaps the most famous king to emerge from the ancient world.

iye is one of the most interesting figures in history, even in the realm of love and romance. Amenhotep

III and iye married while uite young and shared one of the great love affairs of the ages. he colossal

statue of Amenhotep III and iye found at the temple of 8edinet *abu is Du:or, >gypt demonstates a

degree of love and respect that probably has no eual.

hat iye was of great ability and powerful influence is proved by association with her husband in all of

his ceremonial records. 7he was such an integral part of Africa affairs that in more than one instance

foreign sovereigns appealed to her directly in matters of international importance.

he surviving depictions of iye show her with distinct African features. And these depictions are

numerous, found now in museums in New @ork &ity,


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PERPETUA AND FELICITY

It was in !+$ &.>. that the first known &hristian martyrs of Africa were e:ecuted. ?ne of the most famous

and most outstanding acts of martyrdom, however, occurred in the year =$% &.>. and centers around two

young incredibly brave African womenF


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side-by-side, dignity intact, heads raised high as all of the martyrs assembled in the arena had their

throats cut.

NEITHHOTEP

Neithhotep, circa %=$$ B&>, is credited as the first ueen of (mt

ancient >gypt', cofounder of the Girst 4ynasty, and the earliest African ueen whose name is known. @ou

could even say that she reigns as a kind of godmother of (mtthe greatest nation in the ancient world.

Neithhotep means the goddess Neith is 7atisfied./ Neithhotep0s dynastic marriage to (ing Narmerrepresents the start of the >arly 4ynastic and died

in 8arch H!" &>. 7he is regarded as the world0s first outstanding woman in mathematics and one of the

most interesting personalities from the world of antiuity. In addition to mathematics, she also taught

philosophy and astronomy.

*ypatia lived during the time of the oman domination of >gypt and was killed by a mob fanatical

&hristians on the streets of Ale:andria. 8athematics has a long and distinuished tradition in Africa and

she is said to have belonged to the mathematical tradition passed down to the 2reeks of the Academy of


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Athens. *ypatia was the daughter of the man named heon, the last known mathematician associated

with the 8useum of Ale:andria.

AMINA SUKHERA

he great African woman called Amina 7ukhera was a princess of

a99au now aria', in what is now northern Nigeria. 7he was born near the year !"%% and died about the

year !1!$. he Arabic name Amina means truthful, trustworthy and honest. Amina 7ukhera was a fierce

warrior. According to tradition, as a child, Amina0s grandmother once caught her holding a dagger. As an

adult, Amina refused to marry, and helped a99au aria' become a focal point for trade and commercial

activity. 7he also e:panded its territory. he introduction of kola nuts into cultivation in the area is

attributed to Amina. A statue at Amina at the National Arts heatre in Dagos, Nigeria, honors her, and

numerous educational institutions bear her name.


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LUZIA: THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN

Du9ia is the name for the skeleton of a prehistoric woman found in a cave in Bra9il, 7outh America. 7ome

archaeologists believe she may have been part of the first wave of immigrants to )ourney from Africa to

7outh America. Nicknamed Du9ia her name pays homage to the famous African fossil Ducy,/ who lived

%.H million years ago', the !!,"$$ year-old skeleton was found in Dapa Eermelha, Bra9il, in !5#". he skull

itself was buried under more than forty feet of mineral deposits and debrisseparated from the rest of the

skeletonbut in surprisingly good condition. here were no other human remains at the site. 7o we can

say that the woman dubbed Du9ia was an African woman in the Americas long before the advent of

enslavement.

Junoko ashidi is a noted historian, a world traveler and the author or editor of several books. *e is

currently coordinating African heritage tours to many parts of the world. Gor more information please

write tounokoKyahoo.comor go to www.travelwithrunoko.com
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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12 Great African Women In History You Should Know.docx