Nzinga Mbande, a 17th-century warrior queen, was a symbol of resistance against Portuguese colonization in Angola. She was a skilled diplomat, strategist, and military leader who succeeded in outsmarting the Portuguese through her courage and intelligence.
Nzinga’s first encounter with the Portuguese was when she succeeded her brother to the throne of Ndongo in 1624. The Portuguese were expanding their territory in Angola and sought to convert the Ndongo people to Christianity while also enslaving them.
Nzinga refused to submit to the Portuguese and sought alliances with neighboring kingdoms to strengthen her army. She also formed an alliance with the Dutch, who were also fighting the Portuguese in the region.
Nzinga was a master of diplomacy. In one instance, she arrived at a meeting with Portuguese governor João Correia de Sousa, only to find that there was no chair for her to sit on. Instead of being disrespected, she made one of her servants kneel down on all fours and used his back as a chair. This display of power and dignity served as a warning to the Portuguese that they could not intimidate her.
Nzinga’s military strategy was equally impressive. She used guerilla tactics to attack the Portuguese and their allies, burning their crops and slaughtering their cattle to starve them out. She also led her army into battle personally, riding on horseback and dressed in men’s clothing.
In one notable instance, Nzinga allied with the Dutch to launch an attack on Luanda, the Portuguese capital. She disguised herself as a man and led her troops into battle. The Portuguese were caught off guard and retreated, giving Nzinga and her allies a decisive victory.
Through her intelligence and courage, Nzinga was able to outsmart the Portuguese and resist their colonization efforts. Her legacy lives on today as a symbol of resistance against oppression and colonialism.
Queen Anna Nzinga of Angola fought against the slave trade and European influence in the seventeenth century. Known for being an astute diplomat and visionary military leader, she resisted Portuguese invasion and slave raids for 30 years.
She ruled during a period of rapid growth in the African slave trade and encroachment of the Portuguese Empire into South West Africa, in attempts to control the slave trade. Nzinga fought for the Independence and stature of her kingdoms against the Portuguese in a reign that lasted 37 years.
