Reines d’Afrique et héroïnes de la diaspora noire

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In this book, Sylvia Serbin to do research on great women who took a prominent part in the history of Africa and the Black Diaspora, from ancient times to the beginning of the 20th century. Queen Pokou (Ivory Coast), Anne Zingha (Angola), Queen Ranavalona III (Madagascar), the Mulatto Solitude (Guadeloupe), Madam Tinubu (Nigeria), the Amazons of Dahomey, Kahena from Algeria, Dona Beatrice (Congo), Nandi, Chaka Zulu’s mother, and the Hottentot Venus (South Africa) are some of the figures portrayed among twenty-two characters. These queens, women of influence, resisters against slavery, prophetesses, warriors or mothers of heroes are mostly unknown by the general public.

The author, a really talented storyteller, highlights the life of these women. Based on historical materials – both written and oral sources - which took her several years of research, Sylvia Serbin offers to the reader a magnificent fresco wich arouses feelings of admiration, horror, sorrow or respect for the exceptional characters depicted here.<

A useful and fascinating book which reveals unexplored facets of some pre-colonial African societies, often presented as sluggish and rigid, but having in reality demonstrated an indisputable vitality.

Journalist and historian, Sylvia Serbin has also worked in the field of corporate communication in large organisations. African-West Indian, she spent 30 years in Africa where she was born, and lives now in France where she studied and then spent a part of her career. Sylvia Serbin wrote historical series for the radio and various magazines. She also made a contribution to the encyclopaedia published by UNESCO on the General History of Africa.

To order the book: www.editions-sepia.com

• 27-11-2010