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Njinga Mbandi

Queen of Ndongo and Matamba

This comic strip is an interpretation of certain periods in the life of Njinga Mbandi (1581–1663), Queen of Ndongo and Matamba, who defined much of the history of seventeenth century Angola. 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. It was against that backdrop that Njinga Mbandi made her mark as an outstanding example of female governance.

Njinga took power and became queen in 1624. She quickly distinguished herself as an excellent sovereign. Her tactics in warfare and espionage, her diplomatic skills, her ability to forge numerous strategic alliances, and her knowledge of trade and religious issues served her well in tenaciously resisting Portugal’s colonialist aspirations until her death in 1663.

The illustrations used in this comic strip are based on historical and iconographic research on Njinga Mbandi and the seventeenth century in Angola. They do not claim to be an exact representation of the events, people, architecture, hairstyles, or clothing of the period.

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Spotlight on women!

The UNESCO Women in African History Series aims to highlight a selection of key women figures in African history. Through the use of ICT, the project showcases 20 African women or women of African descent, who represent only a small part of the contribution of African women, known and unknown, to the history of their countries, Africa and all mankind. Through this project, UNESCO seeks to highlight their legacy and calls for continued research on the role of women in African history.

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